We present a dare for partners in committed relationships who enjoy the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and view Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. On the surface, it could look like standard body horror, but beneath Together exists a deep examination about how we choose to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together marks the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The story begins when Tim and Millie transition from the urban environment to the country for her career. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the tropes cease. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists tumble into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence begins influencing the couple. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past simple connection.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying of scares, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, gross (but tastefully done) body horror, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something grotesque). Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. 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 chase only his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and removed from his support system. He dreads the notion of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Both characters face the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for one another. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism never feels clumsy or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could function as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply look at your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can undertake right now.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu at present.
