By Sarah Osman 

Twinless is by far the most surprising film I’ve seen in a long time. I relished the emotional rollercoaster ride that director and writer James Sweeney takes us on.

Twinless, written and directed by James Sweeney. It begins streaming January 16 on Hulu.

James Sweeney and Dylan O’Brien become friends in Twinless. Photo: Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions

One of my close friends has a twin, and they love attending the Twins Day Festival. Held annually in Twinsburg, Ohio, the event is touted as the largest gathering of twins in the world. The event includes games of cornhole, a “Double Take” parade, twingo bingo, and even a royal court. It’s a wallow in pure kitschy twinness, which is why my friends love it. While my buddy adores her twin, and they’re happy to play bingo together, there is no mistaking them for the same person. They share an undeniable bond, but that doesn’t mean they’re exactly alike.

As I watched the indie flick Twinless, I thought of the Twins Day Festival. What would it be like, I wondered, to go from attending the festival to suddenly losing that other half of you? How big would that void be, and how might you try to fill it? And one speculative thought: what if you’ve never had a twin, but secretly always wanted one?

Twinless asks a few of these questions. The film follows Roman (Dylan O’Brien), who, after losing his twin, Rocky, joins a support group for people who have lost their twin (interestingly, the Twins Day Festival does hold support groups for this very reason). Roman and Rocky were polar opposites: Rocky was gay, vivacious, and incredibly smart, whereas Roman is straight, introverted, and a few French fries short of a Happy Meal.

In the group, Roman meets Dennis (James Sweeney, who also directed the film), who is also mourning his twin. They strike up an unlikely but close friendship, bonding over trips to the grocery store and their love of The Sims. Their initial friendship is sweet; akin to how some rom-coms first start. But then Sweeney pulls the rug out from under the viewer — it turns out that all is not as it seems. The last time I was this shocked by a reveal was Audition, a Japanese horror film that will make you  terrified of piano wire (thankfully, Twinless doesn’t turn into a bloodfest).

It’s difficult to discuss Twinless without supplying spoilers. As the film goes on, Sweeney maintains a Hitchcockian level of suspenseful pacing, but infuses the proceedings with the right amount of pathos. At times, Twinless is heartbreaking, and not just because each of the main characters has lost a twin (although that grief is key). Supporting characters who first appeared slotted for comic relief suddenly become major players in ways that make the plot’s transitions seamless. In the hands of a less capable director, Twinless would fall apart from too many zig and zags, but Sweeney delicately guides us through this what turns out to be a kind of caper movie.

Sweeney is a strong actor in his own right, but the real star is O’Brien. He pulls double duty as both Rocky and Roman, and when Rocky appeared on screen, I almost forgot that O’Brien had been cast in that additional role. O’Brien portrays Rocky with a boisterous confidence; he’s akin to Ilya from Heated Rivalry, who is definitely the far more charismatic and interesting half of the romantic pairing (I still don’t understand why Ilya is drawn to Shane in Heated Rivalry—other than the fact that he’s hot—but that’s for another article). Roman, on the other hand, is awkward. He lacks Rocky’s self-assuredness and first comes across as a stereotypical straight dude. But the more we see of Roman, the more we understand him to be a genuinely sweet and sensitive guy.

Twinless is by far the most surprising film I’ve seen in a long time. I relished the emotional rollercoaster ride Sweeney takes us on. Just as I thought I had the plot figured out, it deftly took a hard left. It’s often assumed that twins are alike, though most of them are not. So it’s fitting that a superb film about twins, and the pain of losing one, is itself unique.

Sarah Mina Osman is based in Los Angeles. In addition to The Arts Fuse, her writing can be found in The Huffington Post, Success Magazine, Matador Network, HelloGiggles, Business Insider, and WatchMojo. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and is working on her first novel. She has a deep appreciation for sloths and tacos. You can keep up with her on Instagram @SarahMinaOsman and at Bluesky @sarahminaosman.bsky.social.