We present a dare for long-term couples who appreciate the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and view Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like conventional biological terror, but within Together lies a intense contemplation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together is the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars infuse a particular energy to their characters, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot starts when the couple move from the big city to the country for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the conventions end. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the two fall into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence starts to affect the couple. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The entire film is a methodically building fright fest, weaving in bits of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and far away from his social circle. He dreads the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting either of his characters the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie grapple with the type of challenges that arise in most partnerships over a long period. Deep down, they still love each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these fears of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism never feels clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a strong argument for remaining unattached. On the other hand, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could act as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply look at your partner and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can experience right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform at present.
