Here's a challenge for partners in committed relationships who are fans of the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like conventional physical horror, but beneath Together lies a intense contemplation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for a decade. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their characters, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The narrative begins when Tim and Millie transition from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used plot device, sure, but that’s primarily where the cliches cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the couple. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The whole movie is a slow burn horror experience, blending moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and presents them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and removed from his support system. He is terrified of the idea of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision is that he refrains from painting one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that come with long-term unions a decade in. Deep down, they continue to care for each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor never feels overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could act as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply look at your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can undertake right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
