Movie Review: ‘Twinless’

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Review by James Lindorf

Dylan O’Brien gives an excellent performance playing wildly different twins Roman and Rocky in writer and director James Sweeney’s second feature “Twinless.” The movie made waves at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, not just for the quality of the production but because sex scenes were leaked online by users of Sundance’s virtual platform. Scandal and copyright infringement aside, things only went up from there with “Twinless” taking home the Audience Award for a U.S. Dramatic Film and the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting. The film also impressed Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions, who are bringing it to select theaters beginning on September 5th.

Currently, about 3% of the world’s population is made up of twins. Whether they are identical or fraternal twins have always been the subject of fascination. Starting with legendary figures like Romulus and Remus, to their innocuous use in advertisements like the “Doublemint Twins,” to the horrific Mengele experiments in Nazi Germany. With 97% percent of people unable to fully understand the connection that can come with having a twin, it isn’t a surprise that they seek each other out in times of grief. While attending a support group for people who have lost their twin, two young men, Roman (Dylan O’Brien) and Dennis (James Sweeney), form an unlikely friendship. Both are searching for a new balance to their upturned lives and finding comfort in doing even the most mundane tasks with another person. Still, when Roman meets Dennis’ exuberant co-worker, Marcie (Aisling Franciosi), and secrets are revealed, everything they have built could come unraveled.

“Twinless” has plenty of charm and quirkiness that audiences at large associate with independent movies. Watching the trailer, you won’t be lured in by huge Hollywood names or sweeping cinematography like the latest blockbuster. What you will find throughout all 100 minutes of the runtime is snappy dialogue and deep emotional connections. While the tone of each scene may swing wildly, the performances of Sweeney, Franciosi, and O’Brien keep viewers invested in the journey of their characters.

Dennis is prone to panic attacks, and his emotions can fluctuate as wildly as the tone, while Marcie and Roman are very consistent with only two personality traits each. Franciosi is pitch-perfect as the bubbly Marcie, and while she gives them the impression of someone who will always capitulate, we see that she can stand up for herself. While we get a glimpse of her complexity, we aren’t given enough to say Franciosi gave a well-rounded performance.

However, O’Brien was able to give a varied performance by having the advantage of also playing Rocky, who is boisterous, charming, and witty. He stands entirely apart from the reserved Roman who lacks confidence and is prone to verbal and physical outbursts while processing his grief. Simple cosmetic additions of a mustache, a vibrant wardrobe, and changes to body posture make O’Brien nearly unrecognizable when we are first introduced to Rocky in a flashback.

If this film is successful, Sweeney may be able to take a step back from being an uber-hypanate of writer-director-star-producer to being able to commit all of his energy to just a couple of those tasks. “Twinless” may be a diamond in the rough, but it remains a gem that hints at great potential for Sweeney as he continues to polish his skills. With its plot twists and engaging performances, “Twinless” comes in at a very solid 4 out of 5.

Release Date (Limited Theatrical): September 5th, 2025
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Rating: R (Language|Sexual Content/Nudity)
Runtime: 1h 40m
Director: James Sweeney
Screenwriter: James Sweeney
Producer: David Permut, James Sweeney, Alex Astrachan
Distributor: Roadside Attractions / Lionsgate
Production Co: Permut Presentations, Three Point Capital (TPC)