Twinless (2025)

“Great review, without giving too much away.”

“Just enough detail to make you really want to go and watch it.”

“Great concise review which tells me what I need to know.”

These are some comments I’ve received on previous reviews. They are my favourite kind of comments. They let me know that I haven’t given spoilers, but still managed to entertain with my review. When drafting my reviews I spend time making sure that I can tell the reader enough about the film, but not too much. Toeing that line is tricky.

Then last night, I watched Twinless (2025) and realised it would be very difficult to write about, because the twist is the point. When the film premiered at festivals, reviewers were deliberately given very little information about the plot. (But the critics still gave it awards for the screenplay, director and the cast). The trailer let me know it was funny, but also didn’t really give me much to go on. Normally I read a couple of reviews before I watch a film, but there was so little to go on.

So, how do I write about the movie? What can I say that builds anticipation, but doesn’t ruin plot lines? As I sat down to write a review, I felt like the person who threatened a queue outside a cinema with telling them the ending of The Sixth Sense.

My dilemma is how do I recommend this off-beat, surprising comedy, without giving away too much?

Here’s what I think I can tell you.

Twinless is a psychological, dark comedy written, directed and starring James Sweeney as Dennis, an awkward, lonely gay man living in Oregon.

The film centres on the very specific grief of Roman (played by Dylan O’Brien) whose twin brother is killed in a traffic accident. The trailer and the first twenty minutes suggest that we are about to watch a bromance – a gay man and his straight best friend, meeting at a support group for bereaved twins. This in itself would make an interesting movie, but one we feel we could plot out. And then, the film starts again and turns into something darker, and a more poignant storyline comes along.

What makes the film worth recommending?

It is whip smart funny with a sharp-witted, tight screenplay. The actors produce in depth character studies. It is a master-class in point of view, our opinions spin on a sixpence when we are presented with a different angle. The main female character (Marcie played by Aisling Franciosi) is given complexity and agency. There is a brief appearance by Lauren Graham as Roman's mother and she is always watchable. It takes grief seriously, and the way it veers between anger and numb depression. It offers a commentary on loneliness, without moralising or forgiving dubious choices. It is ethically messy, occasionally creepy and intensely human. I laughed and I cried.

It was good enough that I could ignore the fact that the man sitting to one side of me was a very heavy breather. (The man to my other side, was my partner and he had no problem staying awake which is another thumbs up for the movie).

I don’t want to say more, because the less you know, the better the film will be. Hope I’ve got you intrigued. Hope I’ve not ruined anything.

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