Here's a challenge for long-term couples who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your loved one and view Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its online premiere on the Hulu service. On the surface, it might appear like standard physical horror, but beneath Together exists a profound contemplation about how we choose to love one another.
A Debut Feature Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars bring a particular energy to their characters, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The story starts when the couple transition from the urban environment to the rural area for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the cliches cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their new home, a storm hits, and the two discover an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity begins influencing the couple. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying of scares, weaving in moments of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and wraps them up in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and removed from his network of friends. He is terrified of the idea of completely losing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is amplified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
Both characters face the kind of problems that arise in long-term unions over a long period. At their core, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these anxieties of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, some couples having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could function as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the ending sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply look at your other half and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform now.
