We present a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy horror films: Sit down with your loved one and stream Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its online premiere via Hulu. On the surface, it could look like typical biological terror, but inside Together resides a profound meditation about our choices in loving each other.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have been together for a decade. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The story starts when the couple relocate from the big city to the country for her career. A familiar plot device, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the conventions end. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the protagonists discover an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past simple connection.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying of scares, blending moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes amidst something grotesque). The director orchestrates these parts seamlessly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and removed from his network of friends. He fears the concept of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that arise in any relationship over a long period. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory never feels overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama work together in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply look at your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can experience at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
