Twinless (dir. James Sweeney)

by Jack Martin | Feb 3, 2026

Certificate: 15

Running Time: 100 mins

UK Distributor: Park Circus Films

UK Release Date: 6 February 2026

WHO’S IN TWINLESS?

Dylan O’Brien, James Sweeney, Aisling Franciosi, Lauren Graham, Tasha Smith, Chris Perfetti, François Arnaud, Susan Park, Cree Cicchino

WHO’S BEHIND THE CAMERA?

James Sweeney (director, writer, producer), David Permut (producer), Jung Jae-il (composer), Greg Cotton (cinematographer), Nik Boyanov (editor)

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

Two men (O’Brien and Sweeney) find solace in a support group for mourning twins…

WHAT ARE MY THOUGHTS ON TWINLESS?

There have been quite a few comedies in the past that have explored the grim theme of grief in humorous fashion, but Twinless differs from its peers by taking one or two radical steps into more diabolically dark territory. And it turns out to be just what the well-worn subject matter might have needed to stay strong.

James Sweeney, who in addition to taking a co-lead role also directs, writes and produces the film, crafts a sly and devious scenario that could well belong to a long-lost Todd Solondz movie if one were just to read the concept alone, but for as messed-up as it may seem on paper, in practise it forms an extremely funny but also profoundly sad narrative that boasts confident filmmaking and powerful performances that, in their own way, ease the pain of its actual story.

Said story begins with Roman (Dylan O’Brien), a young man dealing – not very well, given his short-tempered outbursts – with the sudden loss of his twin brother Rocky (also O’Brien), attending a support group for bereaved twins. It is here where he meets Dennis (Sweeney), who claims to be experiencing the loss of his own twin, and the two soon form a close friendship as they try to make it through their individual grief. Except, in Dennis’s case – and this isn’t exactly a spoiler, since it’s revealed very early on – he isn’t grieving. In fact, he’s not even a twin. And may or may not have inadvertently caused Rocky’s death after spending a casual hook-up with him.

So, underneath the seemingly sincere bromance that forms the film’s primary focus, there’s a slightly more sinister angle that sees the guilt-stricken Dennis effectively stalk and worm his way into the life of Roman, perhaps out of pure lust (after all, the brothers look so alike barring a big Freddie Mercury moustache on the now-dead Rocky) or even a lightly touched-upon obsession with twins that also borders on fetishisation, but most certainly out of a misguided attempt to atone for his mistakes. It’s a somewhat twisted concept that could easily form the basis of a psychological thriller, particularly as certain supporting characters like Aisling Franciosi’s Marcie, an incredibly sweet co-worker of Dennis (who for some reason cannot seem to stand her), begin figuring out the holes in his increasingly contradictory backstory, which in other hands might quickly veer into The Talented Mr. Ripley territory.

But under Sweeney’s direction and writing, the core concept of Twinless is handled with intense care while addressing the emotional fallout that such a situation can exacerbate. There are times when the film earns huge laughs, primarily from the awkwardness of Sweeney’s Dennis trying to maintain the false pretences that he’s won Roman over with, but also from smaller and less consequential moments like a rather graphic sex montage or a support group session being hijacked by a member testing out some macabre stand-up material on their fellow mourners. The humour avoids reaching a point where it comes off as mean-spirited or insensitive, since Sweeney balances it out with scenes that greatly touch upon the deep feelings of regret, anger and sorrow that come with losing a sibling, especially one that you’ve existed alongside ever since forming the same embryo together. Both tones are effective and feel consistent with one another, in a story that shifts from comedic to dramatic in mere swings without feeling like too much of a whiplash.

Sweeney, both as a filmmaker and an actor, explores the darkly comedic depths that his premise offers and finds solid material each time. Off-screen, the writer-director plays around with style such as in one key scene initially shown as a split-screen that soon merges seamlessly into a complete image, one that is both tragic yet awkwardly funny, while some choice editing keeps certain reveals unpredictable and even gives whole new layers to moments we had previously seen. On-screen, though, while Sweeney’s performance is strong, he is outmanoeuvred by the best performance that Dylan O’Brien has ever given, in a dual role where, as Roman, he expresses heavy vulnerability while letting his anger get the better of him – even in heroic moments like when he defends Dennis from a group of homophobic bullies – and, in the much smaller role of Rocky, exudes a boyish confidence that would make any man, gay or otherwise, fall head over heels for his magnetism.

That said, if it’s hard for you to overlook the rather horrible lie that the characters find themselves in and only make worse by feeding it to the point of indigestion, it’s entirely understandable. Twinless is not the kind of film that makes it easy to forgive certain actions that are pretty messed up, particularly that of taking advantage of someone’s heavy grief to fuel their own selfish desires, but it is also a film that dares to present the situation in a way that, despite its uncomfortable nature, can be settled and even reflected upon with maturity. It offers difficult answers to difficult questions, doing so with impressively bleak humour, performances that rank among the very best many of these actors have yet given, and a recognition of how these people need to awkwardly laugh in order to move on from their melancholy.

SO, TO SUM UP…

Twinless is a darkly hilarious black comedy that may cause discomfort from a rather alarming central premise, but overcomes that with some hugely funny dialogue, stylish yet understated direction by James Sweeney, and a standout lead dual performance from Dylan O’Brien that’s the best he’s yet given.