Consider this a challenge for partners in committed relationships who enjoy horror films: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like standard body horror, but within Together exists a intense contemplation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have been together for a decade. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a particular energy to their characters, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The narrative begins when Millie and Tim move from the urban environment to the rural area for professional reasons. A familiar story element, sure, but that’s mostly where the cliches end. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists fall into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past simple connection.
The whole movie is a methodically building horror experience, weaving in elements of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and presents them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and far away from his support system. He dreads the notion of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie refrains from painting Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie confront the sort of issues that arise in any relationship over a long period. At their core, they still love one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the allegory does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that single viewers have understood the narrative as a powerful case for staying single. On the other hand, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the ending inspire anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your other half and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can undertake right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu as of this moment.
