Consider this a challenge for long-term couples who enjoy the horror genre: Get comfortable with your partner and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere on the Hulu service. At first glance, it might appear like conventional physical horror, but beneath Together resides a intense meditation about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars contribute a particular energy to their characters, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The narrative starts when Millie and Tim relocate from the urban environment to the country for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical story element, sure, but that’s primarily where the tropes conclude. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their new home, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim discover an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity begins influencing the duo. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a slow burn horror experience, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and presents them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and distant from his support system. He is terrified of the idea of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is amplified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie confront the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships over a long period. Fundamentally, they still love each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a powerful case for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could act as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the finale inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply look at your significant other and say, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can undertake today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu now.
