‘Twinless’ pushes boundaries with darkly comedic ‘bromance’

Let’s face it, the film was never really great as a representative when it comes to twins.

Certainly, Luke and Leia are technically twins in the “Star Wars” movie, but that’s more like a plot point than a real relationship. Also, two iterations of “parent traps” (Hailey Mills or Lindsay Lohan, your choice) have a precocious pair of twin sisters.

There are far more darker depictions, with Bette Davis as twins who murder his sister in “The Dead Ringer.” “Jeremy Irons as a drug-addicted spiritually manipulative twin gynaecologist who uses practice to prey on women in “Dead Ringer” and perhaps the most iconic (and frightening) of all screen twins, “Jeremy Irons as a drug-addicted mentally manipulative twin gynaecologist as a nightmare-like adorable ghost of Slain Grady Girls (Lisa and Lueise Burns).

These are just examples of the first spring, but they reflect a consistent pattern in which the twin presence in the film almost always acts as a plot device. If there is a twin Beckdel test, Hollywood will fail on all counts. There is a reason some of these titles are classics, but it doesn’t help to think that there are a lot of twins who want to watch a movie about what they actually want to be twins.

Ironically, Sundance’s favorite “Twinless” of long-fighting in theatre as of September 5th may get closer to meeting that need, but it draws from almost all of the ratios from above, despite the fact that both of its main men have already lost their twins at the beginning of the story (as a hint of the title).

We first met Rome (Dylan O’Brien) shortly after the sudden death of his brother Rocky – growing far from him – in a traffic accident. Angry, emotional, caught up in loss, he finds a twin grief management group that has lost twins, and connects with the recent new family member The Wry and the quirky Dennis (James Sweeney, who also wrote and directed by James Sweeney). The two quickly form a bond of support, filling in the void left in their lives by shopping for groceries and eating meals. Dennis becomes a kind of “surrogate twin.” Like Rocky, he’s even gay! – And Roman’s outlook begins to improve as they become more and more inseparable.

However, when Dennis takes Roman to a Halloween party (they’re “Sims” video game, which is cute), things start to get a little weirder when they take him to a Halloween party hosted by his work friend Mercy (Aisling Francioci). Dennis is jealous and brings unpleasant awkwardness to their relationship, and is suspected that his new companion may not have been completely honest.

Going further will be spoilers – and “Twinless” is definitely a film that should be seen as “spoilers-free.” What we tell you is that the two who move beyond the tragedy change some sharp corners until the end, turning from bittersweet comedy to a charmingly courageous bromance, swaying with secrets and psychodrama, secrets begin to exist, turning sharp corners, and beginning to be a heartwarming, pleasant story. They can also tell you that it’s not a secret that you probably think is.

And if it all feels a little inexplicable, don’t worry. “Twinless” actually leaks its biggest “twist” early on. So everything that follows plays like a dark-rimmed but gentle drama, except that it probably has a slightly darker edge than before.

Sweeney – the first feature film (“Straight Up” in the 2020s) also explored the themes of unorthodox love and romance – drives the film from both behind and in front of the camera. As a writer/director, he uses a jumble of style and contrasting tones to create overlap between quirky love stories and unsettling psychological thrillers. There is an eerie humor that stretches beyond death at the heart of its premise, obscuring itself around the intersecting city romance of its conspiracy stars. Perhaps it’s a mix of inconsistencies. But instead of surprise us, it evokes the complexity of emotions that are less threatening than not challenging. Still, for all of it, it also manages to be interesting, sweet, heartfelt, dramatic, joyful and delicate, all the other things we are looking for in stories about love, loss, and the need for human connection.

Similarly, as an actor, Sweeney’s Dennis is the engine that keeps the film running. Learning the art of deadpan’s heartbreak in a sassy self-candering atmosphere, he literally takes over the story from early points, gaining our sympathy even when his motives and his integrity are questioned. However, he subtly replaces O’Brien’s Romans as his main focus (a neat transfer of identification that neatly reflects the film’s themes about shared identity between the twins), but he humbly plays the foil to O’Brien’s flashy, stronger emotional performance, allowing him to taste his sexy portrayal, as he finds his coaster sexy. Gay Twin Rockies – The memorable continuation of the actor’s evolution comes from the unlikely Junior Heart Drokking (MTV’s “Teen Wolf”) to the solid, savvy, terrifyingly soulful protagonist.

As for the way this film represents twins, it’s best to look at it in a comparative way. There is a bond of love that may be described as “other,” “brother romance,” to perfect the self, and there is an inherent need that, while sexuality issues may be complicated, in the end, may transcend it. Roman and Dennis may each want “exchange” twins, but what they really want is the same as we all have for so long. It’s love and connection in a lonely world.

Sometimes it feels breached, but ask us to forgive unforgivable sins in times when all slight perceptions are justifiable causes of anger. It makes it an absurd and strange movie. Even if one of the main male characters is straight.

A refreshing, unique cinema that reminds us how much we all belong to each other, “Twinless” is one of the things that hit the screen with some strange “hidden gems” in September. It is recommended to place it at the top of the list.