Chaotic & Meaningful: Twinless (2026) | Film Review

Twinless (2026) sets itself up to be a deeply meaningful romantic drama but quickly spirals into a chaotic, disconcerting series of events. Twinless is a film layered with deeply flawed characters and their seemingly distorted view of the world. Centred around the character of Dennis who embodies the self righteous victimised individual who places himself above everyone else when in actuality everything about him is a facade. Dennis is portrayed by James Sweeney who wrote and directed the film along with staring in it. His vision, execution and performance were all outstanding. I loved his portrayal of Dennis, hatefully subtle and irritatingly humorous along with his intelligent use of split screen which was used multiple times and continued to add meaning to the storyline. Twinless (2026) is a heartfelt film tackling themes of grief, loss, self doubt, identity, companionship, truth and manipulation to name a few. The film explores the idea of loneliness, obsession and the simple act of friendship but what Twinless (2026) does so well is plays with all these themes and distorts the moral compass. 

Dylan O'Brien portrays duel roles, Rocky and Roman, twins who are nothing alike but are bonded for life. O’Brien was able to conceptualise both roles with conviction and believability, he brought distinct character decisions to each role which made them feel like individuals. Aside from bringing two character to screen, Dylan O'Brien has impeccable emotional range. When bringing Roman to life he was able to keep just enough emotion contained until he burst, his emotional strength and control made the character incredibly unpredictable and compelling. Without revealing any deeper details of the storyline, I will say Dylan O'Brien handled the topic of grief and self doubt beautifully. 

Alongside James Sweeney who was despicably likeable as Dennis, his approach to the character was soft and subtle but made him all the more conniving and obsessive. Sweeney’s portrayal of Dennis is distinctly memorable, he brought to screen a truly dark and sad character who leaves you feeling sorry for him and simultaneously despising. Aisling Franciosi’s portrayal of Marcie acted as the moral compass of the film, she was the understanding, caring, intelligent character who swoops in the save the day and I really enjoyed her moments on screen. 

Overall, Twinless (2026) surprised me. I had no idea what to expect from this film but it wasn’t that. I love a film that toys with your emotions, plays on your mind, I love characters who make terrible decisions and get tangled in a web of lies. James Sweeney executed a truly entertaining piece of storytelling that I highly recommend. Twinless (2026) effortlessly tackles many issues, it confronts codependence, forgiveness, self loathing, loneliness, identity, queer identity, love, companionship, grief, loss and intimacy. Finding yourself when the only person in the world who understands you is gone. A beautifully heartfelt film with a wicked sense of humour and outrageous twists and turns. The central themes of obsession and self loathing remind me of films like Ingrid Goes West (2017), Not Okay (2022) or Sick of Myself (2022), similarly the plot felt reminiscent of Dead to Me (2019-2022). If you’re a fan of any of those stories then I guarantee Twinless (2026) will be a new favourite for you. 

PROBE POINTS

★★★.5