We present a test for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of the horror genre: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it might appear like standard biological terror, but beneath Together exists a profound contemplation about how we choose to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have been together for over ten years. Married in reality in 2017, the two stars contribute a particular energy to their characters, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The plot starts when the couple move from the urban environment to the country for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, of course, but that’s mostly where the conventions end. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their country house, a storm hits, and the two tumble into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity takes hold of the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The entire film is a methodically building fright fest, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and distant from his network of friends. He is terrified of the concept of completely losing his sense of self in another person. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he refrains from painting one partner or the other 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 one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism avoids being clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could function as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply turn to your partner and say, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can embark on right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
