Twinless

So... twinless meeting twinkless.
(I'm so sorry if you stop reading right at this point, I totally understand)

James Sweeney wrote, produced, directed, and starred in this film — and he also cast himself as Dylan O’Brien’s bottom. What can I say, clever move, comrade. I’ve always loved films whose synopses are impossible to summarize in just a couple of sentences, and Twinless definitely falls into that category.

The film follows Roman, who is grieving the death of his twin brother, who died in a car accident. While attending a support group, he meets Dennis, who also lost his twin. The two quickly bond over their shared experiences and form a close friendship. Roman’s brother was gay, and Dennis himself is gay — which adds some interesting dynamics to their relationship. But, as it turns out, Dennis is not who he claims to be, and he’s directly tied to the tragic accident that killed Roman’s brother.

What makes this film stand out is how incredibly well-written it is. It’s a kind of emotional rollercoaster: it blends heavy drama, black comedy, elements of romance, a touch of psychological thriller, and straight-up satire. And somehow, all these elements are combined very smoothly, making the narrative feel cohesive while remaining consistently entertaining. There are no boring moments where you look at the time.

Sweeney shows very well how lonely people can be and how loneliness affects different people in different ways. He explores this through two very different characters who, under normal circumstances, would probably never cross paths — let alone become friends. But psychological obsessions and personal wounds bring them together in a way that’s both fascinating and unsettling. Dennis is not shown as a typical “sad, lonely queer” character. I mean, yes, he is sad, lonely, and queer, but in this story he represents the extremes that isolation can push a person to — how fear of society and intense craving can twist into something dangerous, leading to unhealthy behaviors and compulsions. Roman is shown as a man who has lost his sense of self and, because of the tragedy, becomes emotionally open to just about anything and anyone. In that state, he misses the red flags and lets a stranger in — someone who manipulates him to serve their own unhealthy goals.

What’s really refreshing here is how the film plays with queer narratives. Not every queer story has to be either tragic and overly dramatic or rosy and idealized. Twinless dives into a darker, more extreme corner of that spectrum, which makes it feel daring and somewhat experimental — especially since, on screen, there’s basically no romance at all.

Dylan O’Brien delivers some very serious acting here, which, in my opinion, is worthy of awards season attention. And yes, he speaks some Simlish in this film. James Sweeney portrays his character’s awkwardness and brokenness very accurately, which sometimes makes the film uncomfortable to watch but always compelling. Aisling Franciosi also deserves praise for her warm, luminous performance as Marcia.

Overall, Twinless is a sharp, unconventional, and engaging film. The concept is interesting and unusual, it’s emotionally layered, and surprisingly entertaining. It may even push you to reflect on aspects of your own life — but it does so lightly, without dragging you into despair.

8/10

Thanks to Roadside Attractions for the screener access. The movie is out in the US, with the European release date TBA.