With an incredibly unique concept, Twinless, about two men who have each lost their twin, is a dark, funny, and surprising ride. I really enjoyed it.
With twins being as common as they are, and with twin accounts flourishing on social media, it’s a little surprising that there aren’t more movies about twins. The Parent Trap, the Mary Kate and Ashley films, and Twins with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito are the ones that come to mind, but none of them focus on any depth – they are situational comedies. The Skeleton Twins is the closest thing to exploring each twin as human, but even then, I would have liked to learn more.
Twinless is about Roman, a man who has recently lost his twin to a tragic accident. While attending a support group for twins who have lost their twin, Roman meets Dennis and the two become friends. They are used to having someone else to do things with, and as a bonus, Dennis is gay (as was Roman’s twin, Rocky), so they find a natural pull to each other as companions. Neither wants to live without their twin and grocery shopping and going out to dinner become things that they can now do together.
This fresh idea was written, directed, produced, and starred in by James Sweeney, who plays Dennis, a smart and peculiar individual that you learn more about throughout the course of the film. I love an indie film with passion and that is exactly what Twinless is.
A dark psychological comedy, this movie feels like it is about one thing and then it opens up into another. I loved when that happened because it was both unexpected and incredibly layered in the best of ways. It is strange and awkward and complicated, and while you are thoroughly entertained by what you are watching, there is a distinct (and almost urgent?) sense of wanting to know how everything will play out.
I am not a twin and I have never put great thought into how deep the connection runs regardless of how well the two siblings get along, so this was a revelation. Dylan O’Brien plays Roman (and Rocky in flashback), and watching him explore the pain associated with his sudden loneliness – his sudden singleness – is truly unique to this film.
There is some gorgeous cinematography here as well. When Roman has his breakdown in anger, it is a single tracking shot that slowly pulls in on his face. There are lovely side-by-side shots where you can see what either friend is doing at the same party, another where the camera pulls out and you see Dennis on the phone with another Dennis and another Dennis listening to messages, and others that focus specifically on a restaurant booth through the window. It is all in perfect tone with the movie and much of it feels intimate with a bit of whimsy.
Twinless is a surprising film with lots of personality and an air of oddity. Sweeney created a really well written and constructed piece that hasn’t had a lot of publicity, so I highly encourage you to watch it. Fresh ideas don’t come along every day.
Runtime: 100 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: R
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 4.25/5 Stars
Available:Torent on Prime Video or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
With twins being as common as they are, and with twin accounts flourishing on social media, it’s a little surprising that there aren’t more movies about twins. The Parent Trap, the Mary Kate and Ashley films, and Twins with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito are the ones that come to mind, but none of them focus on any depth – they are situational comedies. The Skeleton Twins is the closest thing to exploring each twin as human, but even then, I would have liked to learn more.
