NZIFF: Twinless

A grieving brother finds an unlikely connection at a support group for siblings who have lost a twin, but his burgeoning bromance threatens to turn into something darker in this uncomfortably sharp-witted comedy.

When his brother is suddenly killed in a car accident, estranged sibling Roman (Dylan O’Brien) suffers the unique pain of being permanently severed from his twin. Inseparable in childhood, the brothers drifted apart as adults, brother Rocky (also O’Brien) living out and proud in Portland while Roman lived a (decidedly hetero) tradie life in hometown Idaho. It seems he’ll never have the chance to work through his complicated feelings towards his twin until stumbling upon a bereavement group for just such a purpose.

There he meets Dennis (James Sweeney). Neurotic, sarcastic, gay, he’s the opposite that attracts as the pair bond over trauma and a deep need for attachment. They quickly become each other’s emotional support twin-surrogate, on call for late night grocery trips, afterwork b*tch sessions, and road trip singalongs. But odd couple bliss can’t last, as Dennis has more than friendship in mind, Roman grapples with explosive anger issues, and dark secrets inevitably come to light.

Sweeny’s sophomore effort as writer, director, and co-star walks an entertaining balance between discomfort and hilarity. With finely calibrated performances from both leads, Twinless is witty, warped, and surprisingly warm hearted. — Adrian Hatwell

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