James Sweeney is a filmmaker who grew up as a military brat and longed for a twin, envisioning a built-in best friend by his side. However, his dreams remained unfulfilled as he navigated life without a twin. This personal desire serves as the foundation for his film, “Twinless,” which explores the complexities of twindom and the various dimensions of grief.
In “Twinless,” Sweeney not only writes, directs, and produces but also stars in the film alongside a remarkable Dylan O'Brien, who plays two distinct twin characters. The first, Rocky, is charismatic and confident, while the other, Roman, is a straight man burdened by insecurity. The film delves into the struggle of grief and the subjective nature of love and loss, echoing sentiments often discussed in Shakespearean themes.
The narrative begins dramatically with a crash, followed by a funeral where Roman mourns his twin, Rocky. The nature of their relationship is soon highlighted when strangers at the funeral comment on Roman’s resemblance to Rocky, encapsulating a unique experience often faced by twins. Roman is tasked with clearing out Rocky's apartment in Portland, Oregon, alongside their grieving mother (played by Lauren Graham in a poignant role). It is during this time that Roman discovers a twin bereavement group, which becomes a pivotal point in the narrative.
Within this bereavement group, Roman meets Dennis, who openly shares the pain of losing his twin, Dean. Although they appear to be opposites, their shared experience of loss cultivates a bond between them. The film subtly shifts from a quirky bromance to an exploration of deeper emotional turmoil as Dennis recounts heartwarming yet gut-wrenching stories about Dean, revealing the complexities of mourning a twin. Dennis expresses a troubling sentiment: his affinity for the pain of grief, as it serves as a reminder of his lost brother.
The film takes another turn after 20 minutes of setup when the opening credits roll, indicating a forthcoming complexity in the plot. As the story unfolds, Roman's involvement with Dennis deepens, leading to entanglements arising from shared grief, friendship, and unforeseen psychological challenges. Sweeney cleverly utilizes a split-screen technique to illustrate the contrasting perspectives of characters during key social events, including a Halloween party that introduces an essential female character, Marcie, the office receptionist portrayed by Aisling Franciosi.
As the interactions among Roman, Dennis, and Marcie progress, the narrative begins to unravel, hinting at a tumultuous climax. The relationships become increasingly tangled, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion that encompasses both violence and poignancy. Sweeney’s direction cleverly intertwines moments of levity with the darker undertones of grief, ultimately leading to a contemplation of loneliness and the measures individuals will undertake to avoid it.
In the film's resolution, audiences are left with weighty themes of grief, loneliness, and the emotional intricacies inherent in human relationships. As Sweeney encapsulates these themes, he leaves a lingering mystery about the experience of solitary existence, allowing viewers to reflect on the essence of connection and loss in their own lives. “Twinless,” distributed by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions, carries an R rating for sexual content, nudity, and language, with a running time of 100 minutes, and has received a three-star rating out of four.
