Consider this a test for partners in committed relationships who enjoy horror films: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit recently had its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like conventional body horror, but beneath Together resides a profound contemplation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have been together for over ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The story commences when the couple transition from the big city to the countryside for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, of course, but that’s primarily where the tropes cease. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a strange force starts to affect the couple. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The entire film is a methodically building horror experience, blending bits of fever-dream horrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and presents them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is suffering due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the notion of totally forfeiting his sense of self in his partner. This fear is amplified by the fact he can’t drive and needs Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together avoids making one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Both characters grapple with the type of challenges that arise in long-term unions after ten years. Deep down, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these anxieties of codependency and fully committing to another person, the symbolism avoids being overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a powerful case for remaining unattached. On the other hand, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could function as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your partner and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can undertake right now.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu now.
