We present a test for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy the horror genre: Settle in with your significant other and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit recently had its online premiere on Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like conventional physical horror, but beneath Together resides a deep contemplation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together represents the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The narrative commences when the couple relocate from the metropolis to the countryside for professional reasons. A familiar narrative setup, of course, but that’s primarily where the tropes end. Together transforms 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 storm hits, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity starts to affect the couple. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The entire film is a slow burn fright fest, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but never too gross) physical transformations, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together neatly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and removed from his social circle. He is terrified of the idea of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he avoids making Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Both characters face the kind of problems that are inherent in long-term unions after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to another person, the metaphor avoids being overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama work together symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that single viewers have understood the narrative as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could act as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the finale plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your partner and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
