PARK CITY – The first shot we witness in “Twinless,” a world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, is a static image of a city street in Portland, Oregon. After a tranquil beat, we hear a car crash and hit something or someone off-screen. Director James Sweeney immediately cuts to a somber burial where a visibly uncomfortable Roman (Dylan O’Brien) greets emotional mourners who are awestruck by how much he looks like the deceased. That’s your first hint that Roman has lost his twin and these two moments will become integral to Sweeney’s meticulously twisty dramedy.
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Roman first meets Dennis (Sweeny) in a support group for twins coming to terms with the loss of their other half. Bonding over terrible cookies at a refreshment table, Roman guesses that Denis is gay. His now-dead brother, Rocky (portrayed by O’Brien), was also of that persuasion. And Denis reveals that his departed brother was, like Roman, straight. It’s almost too coincidental. Before you know it, the pair have clicked. Seemingly filling the void for almost constant companionship and support their twin provided (or did they?).
Aware he’s not the brightest tool in the shed (or great at correctly reciting popular metaphors or euphemisms), Roman has spent most of his life in Moscow, Idaho (he seems unaware there is a more famous Moscow), and has a troubled relationship with his mother (Lauren Graham) he believes always loved his brother more. After clicking with Denis, he decides to stay in Rocky’s swank Portland apartment for a few months. And Denis, who seems bored at his graphic design position, relishes the impromptu video game nights and grocery shopping sprees Roman enjoys. They even sing songs from their childhood in the car together. It’s giving bromance. It’s giving friends for life.
Oh, but wait. All is not what it seems. We are a good 20 minutes into “Twinless” when the title cards appear. And, in an unexpected flashback, we discover Rocky and Denis had met months earlier. Again, all is not what it seems.
O’Brien has already impressed by transforming Roman, a potentially dumb straight “dude,” into a character with heartfelt depth by the time his Rocky is introduced. To suggest Rocky is a 180-degree flip of Roman is an understatement of epic proportions. Rocky is gay. And we mean G-A-Y. He’s charismatic, quick-witted, and a massive tease. Personality-wise, he’s almost nothing like his brother. And you understand why Rocky got out of Idaho as quickly as he could. He was soon living his true authentic life in Portland and having a blast.
This is also a portrayal that could have bordered on performative cliches if in the wrong hand. Thankfully, O’Brien has no interest in that. In a short period, he paints a natural, grounded portrayal of a very gay man. A performance even some publicly out and genuinely talented gay actors couldn’t pull off. Granted, he’s assisted by Sweeney’s sharp-tongued script and some inspired direction, but in many ways, this is all on O’Brien’s shoulders and he knocks it out of the park.
For the most part, Sweeney does a wonderful job of keeping the audience guessing what is going to happen next. That is until the introduction of Denis’ co-worker, Marcie (Aisling Franciosi), his company’s receptionist. Within a scene or two, it’s fairly obvious she’s being set up as a love interest for Roman, and conflict with a jealous Denis is imminent. It’s not bad screenwriting, but compared to what Sweeney has fashioned in the first half or so of the movie it’s just a bit too predictable.
If “Twinless” is a movie centered on twins, it’s slightly ironic (and seemingly not intentional) that the tone takes a more serious turn in the second half. The first part of the movie is decidedly smart comedy. Exceptionally funny stuff. The film often feels like a long-lost cousin to “Heathers,” a Parker Posey movie from the ’90s, or any of Julio Torres‘ recent work (without the fantastical elements). There is a zinger here or there in the second half, but overall, the tone takes perhaps too serious a turn. You keep hoping Sweeney will swing the proceedings back to the framework of his initial inspiration. Perhaps that’s too tall an order.
Then again, at its heart, “Twinless” is a movie about loneliness. About finding someone to fill that emptiness, soothing life’s inherent anxiety. Whether a lover or a friend, they are often hard to find. And the more secrets and lies that go unchecked, the more likely the bonds of trust will rip asunder. That’s pretty serious stuff. You should still be able to find the humor in it, though. At least a wee bit more. But O’Brien and Sweeney in that first half? Play it back, baby. Play it back. [B+/B]
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