Here's a challenge for long-term couples who appreciate horror films: Get comfortable with your partner and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit recently had its online premiere on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like typical biological terror, but within Together resides a intense meditation about our choices in loving each other.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for a decade. Having wed in reality in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their characters, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The story begins when Tim and Millie move from the urban environment to the country for Millie’s job. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s largely where the tropes cease. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the two discover an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a strange force takes hold of the couple. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a slow burn horror experience, interspersing bits of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but tastefully done) body horror, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and distant from his support system. He fears the idea of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together avoids making Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
The couple face the sort of issues that come with any relationship after ten years. Fundamentally, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these fears of excessive reliance and fully committing to another person, the allegory never feels hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for staying single. Conversely, some couples who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your significant other and state, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can experience at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu now.
