Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who enjoy the horror genre: Sit down with your loved one and view Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. On the surface, it may seem like conventional biological terror, but inside Together exists a intense contemplation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have been together for a decade. Married in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The narrative starts when Tim and Millie transition from the urban environment to the countryside for her career. A commonly used plot device, sure, but that’s mostly where the conventions end. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the two tumble into an underground cave. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the pair. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past simple connection.
The whole movie is a slow burn of scares, weaving in elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and presents them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is only the two lead actors, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and distant from his network of friends. He dreads the concept of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is amplified by the fact he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters grapple with the kind of problems that arise in long-term unions after ten years. At their core, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism never feels hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Conversely, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
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 finale inspire anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply look at your partner and utter, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can embark on today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
