Here's a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its streaming debut via Hulu. On the surface, it may seem like conventional biological terror, but beneath Together resides a intense meditation about our choices in loving one another.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, partners that have remained a couple for ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a special spark to their characters, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot begins when the couple move from the big city to the country for Millie’s job. A familiar story element, of course, but that’s primarily where the conventions end. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the two discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity begins influencing the duo. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together neatly and delivers them in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his social circle. He fears the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is intensified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision is that he refrains from painting Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie confront the type of challenges that arise in any relationship after ten years. At their core, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of codependency and fully committing to a partner, the allegory avoids being clumsy or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a powerful case for staying single. Conversely, some couples experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending plant anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your partner and say, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu at present.
