I vividly bear in mind seeing Straight Up, James Sweeney’s first movie, and considering, “This man has one thing particular.” His particular comedic voice, the distinctive method he explored sexuality, and his willingness to lean into the messy all made for one of the crucial memorable movies of Outfest in 2019. His sophomore movie, Twinless, comprises all these components once more to inform a really completely different however simply as creatively daring story that will little doubt emerge as one in every of my favorites of Sundance 2025.
What’s ‘Twinless’ About?
Twinless begins with a picture of a diner and the sound of a automobile wreck — two issues that may turn into crucial and continually recontextualized for the following 100 minutes. We rapidly study that the crash killed the magnetic and clever Rocky (Dylan O’Brien) and that his twin Roman (additionally O’Brien) and his mom (Lauren Graham) are coping with his demise principally by isolating and snapping at each other. After one such argument as the 2 are sorting by Rocky’s issues, Roman’s mom insists he wants assist, and he finds himself in a bereavement group for individuals who have misplaced their twins.
The movie’s penchant for darkish humor is established instantly, with the help group’s chief (Tasha Smith) making digs about her deceased sister. Throughout a break, Roman begins speaking with one other group member, Dennis (Sweeney). The two immediately hit it off in a sweetly awkward method, and so they start spending time collectively, doing regular issues they used to do with their respective twins like going to the grocery retailer and enjoying Sims.
Oh, did I point out that’s simply the chilly open? Properly, it’s. After the title card lastly hits, we’re thrown a large curveball — the primary of a number of — that complicates every part, making us query what we thought we knew. It’s a large threat, and in Sweeney’s arms, it’s one which pays off in spades, turning what’s already set as much as be an excellent film into a superb one.
‘Twinless’ Is a Tonal Triumph
Twinless is a dramedy in its truest type, equal components hilarious, heartbreaking, and even horrific at numerous factors — and sometimes on the identical time. I used to be reminded of Liz Feldman’s Useless to Me in the way it walks the fragile tightrope, in addition to the best way it makes us fall in love with irresistibly charming characters earlier than peeling again the layers to show the secrets and techniques beneath and ugliness they’re able to. However do objectively fallacious decisions robotically imply the folks making them are irredeemably unhealthy? Twinless doesn’t come out and say “no” — that might be too straightforward. As a substitute, it makes its characters so layered and magnetic that the viewers naturally desires to attempt to sympathize with and rationalize their really detestable choices — after which really feel conflicted about doing so.
Essentially the most well-utilized software for reaching that’s undoubtedly the humor Sweeney injects into the script. Each joke is recent and genuine, serving the twin goal of creating the viewers snicker and serving to us get to know the characters. Dennis does have one key persona trait that doesn’t fairly work for me — an obsession that feels too on the nostril, over-the-top, and finally pointless — however all in all, the comedic beats constantly land.
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The dramatic moments are simply as participating and spectacular. The movie is chock-full of memorable strains which can be reducing and beautiful of their simplicity. “Every single day is a foul day now,” Dennis says of life after his twin. “I used to be a we — now I’m an I,” Roman says at one other level. There are numerous films about grief and loneliness, however Twinless gives a special approach, inspecting underexplored advanced variations of those feelings.
The identical could be stated for the movie’s LGBTQ+ themes, which really feel delicate and seamlessly built-in. That Dennis and Rocky are each homosexual is essential to the plot, nevertheless it’s not the whole level. There’s a pure, lived-in high quality to the queerness that’s refreshing, and the truth that Sweeney lets his queer characters be genuinely, unabashedly flawed makes for more practical and thrilling illustration than tales that sanitize its queer characters. The homophobia they expertise isn’t used as an inexpensive crutch or excuse both, as Sweeney delicately weaves it by the characters’ arcs in a method that could possibly be disastrous with a much less succesful filmmaker.
‘Twinless’ Incorporates a Profession-Greatest Efficiency From Dylan O’Brien — And a Star-Making One for James Sweeney
We see O’Brien embodying Roman for almost all of the movie’s runtime, and the quantity of depth he manages to infuse him with is really spectacular. Roman is, for lack of a greater phrase, a himbo, usually misusing phrases and phrases and fast to unravel issues utilizing violence. However the movie by no means paints him as silly or imply. Quite, it makes us really feel a bit responsible for laughing at his ignorance and approaches his lashing out with compassion — a legit anger difficulty and protection mechanism. O’Brien performs Roman with a phenomenal, simultaneous mixture of energy and vulnerability that makes it not possible to not root for him.
Although we see him play Rocky far much less — solely by flashbacks — the dimension O’Brien provides to him is outstanding as effectively, as we really really feel like we get to know him in a brief period of time. Whereas there are aesthetic clues like wardrobe and facial hair that differentiate the 2, O’Brien deserves credit score for his consideration to physicality. There’s a transparent distinction to the best way he carries himself between each roles, and he fully disappears into each components. It’s on par with the work Rachel Weisz did in Useless Ringers, and consider me once I say that’s simply in regards to the highest praise I can provide.
The movie even subverts our expectations in relation to the supporting characters, with Dennis’ coworker Marcy (Aisling Franciosi) a primary instance. Her relentless optimism and kindness are set as much as be a punchline — the butt of quite a few jokes — however she finally turns into essential to the plot, and we as an viewers start her in a complete new surprising mild, although the best way it’s cleverly foreshadowed doesn’t make it really feel misplaced within the slightest. There’s an identical, smaller second with Graham, although sadly, she feels extraordinarily underutilized.
Sweeney’s efficiency can also be pitch-perfect, as he imbues a extremely controversial character with charisma and grounds the movie by its many twists and turns. It’s a extremely demanding and difficult function, however he makes it look straightforward. His writing and efficiency are rivaled solely by his directing expertise, which additionally impress. One standout second entails a split-screen that’s not solely visually attention-grabbing however enhances that second of the narrative by drawing attention-grabbing parallels and constructing to a satisfying climax.
Twinless is a masterfully crafted and thought-provoking dramedy that’s certain to go away you with a lot to grapple with. Past being thematically wealthy and punctiliously assembled, it’s additionally only a actually good time. You’ll positively snicker, you’ll in all probability cry, and there’s a very good likelihood you’ll be searching for Sweeney’s subsequent venture. I do know I’m.
Twinless premiered at this 12 months’s Sundance Movie Pageant.
Twinless
‘Twinless’ is a hilarious and heartbreaking dramedy that’s not afraid to take massive swings.
- Launch Date
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January 23, 2025
- Runtime
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100 Minutes
- Director
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James Sweeney
- Writers
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James Sweeney
- Producers
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David Permut, Ali Jazayeri, Elizabeth Destro, Miky Lee, Dylan O’Brien
- Dylan O?Brien offers a career-best efficiency by infusing each of his characters with spectacular depth.
- James Sweeney proves a triple menace along with his rigorously crafted screenplay, good directorial decisions, and daring efficiency.
- The plot is rarely predictable and at all times participating, that includes intelligent foreshadowing and surprising twists at each flip.
- One key component of Dennis? character feels over-the-top and pointless.
- Lauren Graham is underutilized, together with her arc feeling finally unsatisfying.
