We present a challenge for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your significant other and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit recently had its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it might appear like typical physical horror, but within Together resides a intense examination about how we choose to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for over ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The story starts when Tim and Millie relocate from the metropolis to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s primarily where the tropes conclude. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states 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 protagonists tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity takes hold of the duo. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying fright fest, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes during something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together expertly and delivers them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He is terrified of the notion of completely losing his individual identity in another person. This fear is intensified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together avoids making either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the kind of problems that arise in any relationship after ten years. Fundamentally, they have affection for one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these fears of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism does not come across as overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion sow anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply look at your partner and utter, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu at present.
