Film review: Twinless

After premiering at Sundance just over a year ago, psychological black comedy Twinless has been decorated with numerous festival awards. It marks the sophomore feature from filmmaker James Sweeney who not only directs, but produces, writes and acts in the piece as well. The story begins at a funeral where thirty-something Roman (Dylan O’Brien) grieves the tragic death of his identical twin brother Rocky, who O’Brien also portrays in flashback sequences. At an emotional support group for twinless twins, he meets Dennis (Sweeney) and the pair strike up an unlikely bond, united in their shared experience of grief. However, as their friendship develops and the plot thickens, we discover that all is not as it seems.

Fusing genre and styles, Sweeney’s narrative strikes a delicate tonal balance. Almost mumblecore-esque in its dry delivery of dialogue but with very dark thriller elements to its thematic exploration. It’s challenging to discuss detail without ruining the shocking pre-opening-titles twist the script hinges on, and even if certain beats are signposted early on, there’s a playfulness to the aesthetic that keeps things interesting. In a pivotal party scene around halfway through, the screen neatly splits down the middle to let us in on simultaneous conversations. In another, the camera circles a discussion which elevates the suspense of a revelation, and these storytelling tricks illustrate the fresh-thinking director’s innovativeness.

Playing a double-part, Dylan O’Brien is fantastic as both Roman and Rocky. His turn as the latter is brief but feels distinct and charismatic. As the former, he is dealing with a multitude of issues – grief, self-doubt, and anger management to name a few. It’s a great performance and there’s an enjoyable chemistry with Aisling Franciosi who portrays his girlfriend Marcie in the second half. As talented as he promises to be as a filmmaker, the acting from Sweeney pales in comparison to his talented cast – his character is full of compelling insecurities that may have benefited from a more accomplished performer. Support comes from Lauren Graham as the twins’ mother Lisa – her few scenes introduce an interesting family drama angle but they’re too scarce to make a real impact.

Still so early in what has the potential to be an impressive career in indie cinema, James Sweeney has crafted an ambitious genre-defying gem. Original in its plot and imaginative in its execution, Twinless takes an unorthodox look at misery and loneliness with a jet-black sense of humour.