Twinless Review: A Dark Comedy on Love, Loss and Male Intimacy

“If you’re going to hell- keep goin’”. 

James Sweeney’s Twinless follows two grieving men who meet in a support group for siblings who’ve lost a twin. 

The early-30s twin brothers Rocky and Roman (Dylan O’Brien) could not be more different.

While Rocky is extroverted, flamboyant and possesses an unrelenting amount of self-assured charm, Roman is short-tempered, apolitical and would be the type to say ‘bro’ in every second sentence. When Rocky dies, Roman sparks a connection with Dennis, who reminds him of his late brother. This bond becomes the catalyst for Sweeney’s complex exploration of how we deal with loss and the crisis of male intimacy. 

Twinless considers themes of lying, guilt, and trauma bonding, capturing the messy and often contradictory ways that grief can manifest itself into our lives. As Roman and Dennis navigate their shared pain, their connection blurs the lines between healing and emotional manipulation. 

Twinless: Grief Fracturing Identity

The film touches on the loss of shared identity, where grief can fracture one’s sense of self, and how, in their search for solace, they become entangled in each other’s emotional baggage.

Sweeney, who directed the film and plays Dennis, tells MovieMaker that he hopes audiences will empathise with Dennis, as people “aren’t good or evil in a binary way”. He also describes the act of forgiveness as so “uniquely human”, adding, “It’s one of the most complex but also profound acts that we can give to each other, but also to ourselves. It’s something I deeply believe”.

In between the graphic gay sex, sharp comedic beats and occasional hyper-masculine violence, Twinless doesn’t shy away from exploring awkwardness, regrets and the raw realities of inescapable sadness. 

Aisling Franciosi is also stand-out for her portrayal of Marcie, bringing warmth and kindness to the otherwise jilted pair of grieving men. 

Twinless is a sharp, dark comedy that sensitively explores the black humour of grief, while also investigating the universal desire to be understood. The film serves as a caveat that the choices you make in the depths of grief don’t define who you are as a person.

★★★☆☆ (3/5) – Christine Lai, City Hub

Twinless is playing at the State Theatre on Monday June 9 as part of the 2025 Sydney Film Festival (SFF).