Here's a test for partners in committed relationships who are fans of the horror genre: Get comfortable with your loved one and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit recently had its online premiere on Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like standard biological terror, but within Together exists a deep meditation about how we choose to love each other.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together represents the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The narrative commences when Tim and Millie transition from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a strange force starts to affect the couple. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying horror experience, interspersing elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). The director skillfully blends these components neatly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
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 confidence and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and distant from his support system. He fears the concept of completely losing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he can’t drive and relies on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
The couple confront the kind of problems that arise in any relationship over a long period. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism avoids being overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
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 understood the narrative as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could function as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion plant anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply turn to your partner and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can undertake right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
