Here's a test for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Sit down with your partner and view Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it might appear like conventional body horror, but inside Together exists a deep meditation about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a special spark to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The story starts when Tim and Millie relocate from the metropolis to the country for professional reasons. A commonly used plot device, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the cliches end. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an underground cave. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the duo. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The entire film is a slow burn fright fest, blending bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and distant from his social circle. He dreads the notion of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he can’t drive and relies on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie refrains from painting one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. At their core, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these fears of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the allegory never feels clumsy or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Conversely, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could function as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your partner and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
