Twinless is a beautiful movie that captures how grief can manifest itself in strange ways. Despite Twinless’s obvious appeal being its writing and performances, it still has cool moments of cinematography that made my jaw drop.

Twinless was the talk of the Sundance film festival for many reasons. Due to specific clips being shared by remote viewers who posted them on social media, the film was removed from the Sundance streaming website, preventing many from catching it. While this was unfortunate, it certainly upped the ante to see what made this movie so special. Now that I’m on the other side of that watch, I can see why people latched onto a certain spicy scene, but Twinless is more than just a vehicle for some Dylan O’Brien eye candy.

Twinless starts with Roman (Dylan O’Brien) dealing with the aftermath of his identical twin brother’s death. He is trying to close his accounts, survive the funeral, and deal with his loss through a support group for twins who have lost their match. He meets Dennis (James Sweeney) at the group. The two become fast friends as they bond over their losses. Roman discusses his relationship with his twin, Rocky, to Dennis. In general, Roman is less intelligent and more timid, while Rocky is smart and bold. Also, Roman is straight, and Rocky was gay, which plays a role in the story. They had a difficult relationship, and sharing DNA didn’t make Rocky less of a mystery to him. Roman and Dennis start hanging out consistently, acknowledging how much easier it is to do basic life necessities with another person rather than doing them alone. When the title card finally drops, it switches to Dennis’s perspective, and the movie really starts to click. He has his own issues that come to light and haunt the film.

Twinless features a spectacular performance from Dylan O’Brien in a dual role as twins Roman and Rocky. The heartthrob has always been a blind spot for me because I’ve never seen Teen Wolf or the Maze Runner films. I’ve only seen his recent work, which I enjoyed, but here, he finally gets to shine. What makes his performances special is how sincerely he plays each character. Rocky and Roman are total opposites, but each feels like a fully-formed person. Neither person is perfect, but their issues with each other are so relatable and realistic. His performance as Rocky is much shorter than Roman’s, which causes the audience to grieve right alongside him. Sweeney is also excellent in the film, but he’s a much drier and stranger character in general. Lauren Graham as the twins’s mom has a smaller role than expected. She was somewhat underutilized because there is a lot that could be written about how it feels to lose one of her sons, but it’s ultimately Roman and Dennis’s story.

James Sweeney, alongside starring as Dennis, wrote, directed, and produced Twinless. He had so much to do, and he nailed it all. The best aspect of the film, outside of Dylan O’Brien’s performance, is the thoughtful screenplay. Sweeney acknowledges the pros and cons of having a twin. He taps into universal experiences of identity crises and codependency issues, but shows how twins experience them on heightened levels. On the flip side, he recognizes how lucky twins can be that loneliness is often not a feeling they experience, unless they find themselves in Roman’s situation or estranged from each other. He also manages to balance the tone perfectly, because the film is hilarious, creepy, and heartfelt all at once. Despite Twinless’s obvious appeal being its writing and performances, it still has cool moments of cinematography that made my jaw drop.

Twinless is a beautiful movie that captures how grief can manifest itself in strange ways. Based on the trailer, the movie seemed to be heading in one obvious direction, only for it to zag a much more interesting way. James Sweeney makes a strong impression in his second directorial outing, and Dylan O’Brien has shown he is not just a fun, pretty boy, but an ACTOR. This poignant film has been consuming my mind since I saw it, and I’ve been reflecting on its story and its humorous moments. There are many films releasing around this time, but Twinless is one that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Grade: A-

Oscars Prospects:
Likely: None
Should Be Considered: Best Lead Actor (Dylan O’Brien) , Best Original Screenplay

Where to Watch: In Select Theaters