Here's a test for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your significant other and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere on Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like conventional physical horror, but inside Together exists a intense contemplation about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for a decade. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a special spark to their characters, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot starts when the couple relocate from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the cliches cease. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim fall into an underground cave. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity begins influencing the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The entire film is a methodically building of scares, blending bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) physical transformations, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes during something disturbing). Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He fears the idea of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple face the kind of problems that are inherent in long-term unions over a long period. Fundamentally, they have affection for one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism does not come across as overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a powerful case for staying single. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your significant other and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform now.