Consider this a challenge for long-term couples who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your loved one and view Together. The 2025 indie hit recently had its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it could look like typical biological terror, but within Together exists a intense meditation about how we choose to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for a decade. Having wed in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a special spark to their characters, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The story commences when Tim and Millie move from the metropolis to the countryside for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s mostly where the cliches conclude. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity takes hold of the duo. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, gross (but never too gross) body horror, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes during something horrific). Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and presents them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the notion of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he can’t drive and relies on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting either of his characters the obvious villain.
The couple face the kind of problems that arise in any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of codependency and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could function as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply look at your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu now.
