Consider this a test for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate the horror genre: Sit down with your loved one and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut on Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like typical body horror, but beneath Together resides a intense meditation about how we choose to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together is the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, the actors infuse a special spark to their roles, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The narrative commences when the couple transition from the metropolis to the countryside for Millie’s job. A familiar narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the cliches conclude. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their country house, a storm hits, and the two tumble into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence starts to affect the duo. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, weaving in bits of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and delivers them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his network of friends. He fears the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie refrains from painting one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Both characters face the type of challenges that arise in any relationship after ten years. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the symbolism never feels overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can undertake right now.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
