Here's a test for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of the horror genre: Sit down with your significant other and view Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it may seem like conventional body horror, but beneath Together lies a profound examination about how we choose to love each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have been together for over ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars infuse a particular energy to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The narrative begins when Tim and Millie move from the metropolis to the rural area for her career. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the tropes end. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim fall into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity begins influencing the couple. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a methodically building horror experience, blending moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and presents them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his network of friends. He is terrified of the concept of completely losing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he avoids making one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple grapple with the type of challenges that arise in most partnerships a decade in. Deep down, they have affection for one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism never feels overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Conversely, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could act as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the finale sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and say, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu now.