Consider this a challenge for long-term couples who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your loved one and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit recently had its streaming debut on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it may seem like conventional physical horror, but within Together resides a deep contemplation about the ways we decide to love each other.
An Introductory Film Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for a decade. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, the actors contribute a special spark to their roles, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The story starts when the couple transition from the big city to the country for her career. A familiar story element, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the cliches cease. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists discover an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity begins influencing the couple. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying horror experience, weaving in bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and delivers them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and removed from his support system. He dreads the idea of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he avoids making one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that arise in any relationship over a long period. Deep down, they continue to care for each other. They still laugh together, offer support, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these fears of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism never feels clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the finale sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply turn to your significant other and state, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can undertake today.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu now.
