James Sweeney’s “Twinless” — a dark comedy about two men who connect over their grief — is distinct in its unique structure, meticulous dialogue and potent performances. When Dennis (James Sweeney) meets Roman (Dylan O’Brien) at a support group for bereaved twins, their quick mutual understanding cuts through their loneliness. “Twinless” explores what it means to be a twin and how it feels when that symbiosis gets severed.
The film stars O’Brien at his career high as he disappears into the characters of Roman and his deceased twin Rocky, embodying them with such sincerity that it is hard to believe that both are fictional characters. Sweeney, who also wrote and directed the film, paints vivid characters with his masterful screenwriting. Bolstered by an intuitive portrayal of Roman’s mother, Lisa (Lauren Graham), and the perfectly played grins of Dennis’s coworker, Marcie (Aisling Franciosi), the film is a sensational feat of acting, cinematography, sound design and script.
Accustomed to having a partner in everything, Dennis and Roman begin standing in for the other’s deceased twin, accompanying each other to lunch, the gym and the grocery store. The beginning of this friendship is conveyed through a sequence of short scenes, a directorial choice that certainly contributes to the film’s initial sense of stunted emotion and may have fared better as a smoother montage. The vignettes lead up to a title card that appears over 20 minutes into the film. From this point on, the film pivots from a buddy comedy to a withering, mesmerizing, biting portrait of the lengths people will go to suppress their loneliness.
Despite its devastating overtones, the movie is remarkably funny: It’s dry, witty, sarcastic and earnest all at once. Sweeney in particular is an adept comic — perhaps because he wrote the jokes himself, but also due to his capacity for a wry, even sardonic delivery. Repeatedly, the film induces hilarity from the audience only to quickly halt it with a short, searing line that reminds them of the film’s underlying blistering pain.
Twice in the movie, Roman misquotes a phrase popularly misattributed to Winston Churchill: “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” He makes a small error in his language, though, replacing “through hell” with “to hell” — indicative of his overwhelming guilt. Marcie finally corrects Roman’s quote at the end of the film, a correction that symbolizes Roman’s evolution and the difference between how Marcie and Dennis respond to Roman's grief.
“Keep going” is perhaps the message of “Twinless.” Regardless of suffering and betrayal, you still have to get lunch — and you might as well eat with company.
Rebecca Goodman is a university news senior staff writer covering career and alumni. She is a junior from Cambridge, MA, studying English. Outside of writing, you can find her at the Avon or in the basement of the Rock.
