We present a test for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of the horror genre: Get comfortable with your loved one and view Together. The 2025 indie hit recently had its online premiere via Hulu. On the surface, it could look like typical biological terror, but inside Together lies a profound meditation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, partners that have stayed together for ten years. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a particular energy to their characters, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The story begins when Tim and Millie relocate from the urban environment to the countryside for professional reasons. A commonly used story element, of course, but that’s mostly where the tropes cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence takes hold of the duo. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying of scares, weaving in bits of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) body horror, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). The director orchestrates these parts seamlessly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and far away from his social circle. He dreads the concept of completely losing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Both characters grapple with the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships over a long period. At their core, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these concerns of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory does not come across as clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that single viewers have interpreted the film as a powerful case for remaining unattached. On the other hand, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending inspire anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your significant other and utter, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can embark on today.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
