We present a test for partners in committed relationships who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit recently had its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like typical body horror, but inside Together lies a profound meditation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, partners that have been together for a decade. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a particular energy to their roles, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative starts when Tim and Millie relocate from the big city to the rural area for professional reasons. A commonly used narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the tropes conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their rural residence, 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 mysterious influence starts to affect the pair. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, blending bits of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and wraps them up in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and distant from his support system. He is terrified of the concept of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters confront the kind of problems that come with long-term unions a decade in. At their core, they continue to care for each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these fears of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism avoids being clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. On the other hand, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could act as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the ending inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your other half and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can undertake today.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
