Breaking Down the Shocking Twist and Emotional Ending of Twinless

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Although “Twinless” is a film centered around twin characters, its writer-director and lead actor, James Sweeney, isn’t actually a twin himself. However, the concept has long intrigued him. As he explains, “I asked for a twin for Christmas! I was utterly captivated by Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, their detective books, and various movies and shows. I was absolutely spellbound by them, and I believe twins held an appeal for me because I moved around so much as a military kid, and they represented the epitome of a best friend – someone who shared every experience with you.

In the movie titled “Twinless“, the character Roman (portrayed by Dylan O’Brien) grapples with the passing of his twin brother Rocky, who was also played by O’Brien. At a gathering for bereaved twins, he encounters Dennis (James Sweeney), who shares the heartache of losing their respective twins. Quickly bonding over their shared grief, they soon engage in countless joint activities. This unique friendship is seldom portrayed in cinema; not only are they twins, but Dennis identifies as gay while Roman is straight. Their bond is captivating – though a deception underlying it keeps viewers on edge, anticipating the moment when the truth might shatter their relationship.

A sudden shift in perspective

Sweeney expresses enthusiasm for a change in perspective, and this is exactly what occurs in the film “Twinless,” set for release on September 5 following its win of the Audience Award and Best Performance Award for O’Brien at Sundance in January. The initial 20 minutes offer Roman’s viewpoint, where his bond with Dennis strengthens, followed by an unanticipated switch to Dennis’s perspective. In a surprising turn of events, we witness Dennis on a date with Rocky, the deceased twin brother of Roman. Their connection is strong and they end up at Rocky’s place, where they engage in an intense, exhilarating, and sensual encounter. However, in the heat of passion, a chilling thought arises among the audience: Dennis was aware that Rocky and Roman were twins from the start, and he had been dishonest about having a twin brother of his own. The loss of a twin brother is a crucial aspect of their friendship for Roman, but he remains unaware of Dennis’s deception, designed to gain acceptance into his life.

According to Sweeney, the crucial aspect of that scene for me in understanding Dennis’ character was fully buying into the idea that those 12 hours with Rocky were the most significant of his life. That connection felt genuine, even if it wasn’t as meaningful to Rocky as it was to him. This is something I believe we can all relate to – leaving experiences with varying interpretations.

The creative choice to change viewpoints and position the film’s intimate scene was done with the aim of fostering empathy. As explained by Sweeney, “from a creative point of view, it seemed to ground the audience in Roman’s empathy towards Dennis. Since we observe him exclusively through Roman’s perspective, when we finally reveal some unexpected truths, the audience is already emotionally invested in their friendship. I believe this adds more suspense throughout the movie.

A new complication

In “Twinless,” I found myself rooting for the growing bond between Roman and Dennis, yet there was an unsettling undertone – the looming question of what happens when Roman uncovers the truth about their friendship. The dynamics shift even more with the arrival of Marcie, a coworker of Dennis who starts dating my character, Roman. As our relationship deepens, Marcie’s suspicions towards Dennis grow, leading her to call for a confrontation at the end of our workday.

In a surprising turn of events, Marcie discloses that she’s aware Dennis doesn’t have a twin. They’ve been colleagues for years, and Roman informed her that Dennis’ twin passed away a year and a half ago. Marcie delved deeper, talking to someone acquainted from Dennis’ high school, who verified that Dennis never had a twin. Marcie insists Dennis must confess the truth to Roman or she will. The confrontation is emotional, but what stands out is how compassionate Marcie is towards Dennis. Instead of reveling in his predicament, one might expect, Marcie demonstrates empathy and gives Dennis space. “Marcie embodies that empathy so well,” says Sweeney. “What’s captivating about her portrayal in that room is how empathetic she is, and at the same time, how uneasy she feels, being placed in an awkward position.

The shocking confession

Dennis and Roman embark on an overnight adventure to watch a hockey game, ending up sharing a hotel room afterwards. Roman expresses discomfort in his feet, prompting Dennis to provide a foot massage. Both slightly intoxicated, Roman agrees, but as Dennis becomes engrossed in the act, he ends up nibbling on Roman’s toes. This catches Roman off guard, leading Dennis to confess that he did so because Roman bears such a striking resemblance to Rocky.

In a heartfelt confession, Dennis admits the truth to Roman. He confesses that he doesn’t have a twin and had been secretly watching over Roman, longing for his deceased brother, Rocky. Unaware of this, Dennis unintentionally played a part in Rocky’s death. On one fateful day, while calling out to Rocky on the street, he distracted him, causing him not to notice an oncoming car. The shocking revelation leaves Roman reeling, as he grapples with Dennis’ betrayal. As Dennis tries to console him with a hug, Roman instead lashes out, striking Dennis several times before exiting the hotel room.

As a movie enthusiast, I recall advising Dylan on his response to having his toes sucked, it was one of bewilderment, and Roman being so forgiving towards Dennis. He’s like a deer caught in headlights, oblivious to the impending betrayal because he’s so engrossed in their friendship. It’s a heart-wrenching act of treachery, as Sweeney puts it.

The bond between Roman and Dennis has been severed, leaving them both grappling to find solace without one another. Roman in particular feels a profound emptiness, and though Marcie offers him comfort and support, she cannot fill the void left by his twin brother’s absence. Despite the betrayal, it’s evident that Roman deeply misses Dennis. As Sweeney explains, Roman’s longing stems from his experience as a twin and his intense yearning for closeness. Although Marcie provides him with affection, she also shares her love with others, which makes their relationship more diffuse.

For Roman, the desire to share his life is more focused and intimate, and this can be a struggle for twins, as it’s challenging to compete with the bond between twin brothers. The intense reliance that Roman and Dennis had on each other is hard to replace, leaving Roman feeling incomplete without him.

Hope for reconciliation

In the end, that lonely feeling brings them together at a diner, which was where the movie started. This setting connects with the themes of perspective, particularly objectivity versus subjectivity. From the beginning, we observe Roman, who initially seems detached, then makes efforts to shield himself and set boundaries. These observations are described by Sweeney.

In a somewhat awkward beginning, there’s a sense of familiarity resurfacing between them after a brief moment. Roman gradually settles in, and as the camera moves inside the diner, it captures the subtle revival of their friendly banter that reminds us of why their friendship thrives. According to Sweeney, Roman expresses regret for his hostile behavior towards Dennis, even questioning, “Who are you?”, still struggling to come to terms with his friend’s apparent betrayal. In response, Dennis explains, “They say ‘be yourself,’ right?” implying a question about which version of himself he should emulate. He admits that he dislikes most versions of himself but cherishes the one who spent time with Roman, wishing to be that version always.

I, for one, could see the genuine emotion welling up in Roman during our conversation, and we continued to talk openly. Over the course of those five minutes, there was a palpable sense of ease growing between us, until it felt as if all the strife had never existed between us. Dennis and I, despite the challenges we’ve faced, share an authentic bond; people are prone to slip-ups, even grave ones, but with a willing heart, healing can take place.

Dennis reveals a story that Rocky had told him about Roman (shared early in the movie following the intimate scene), stating how Roman once injured his foot with a bowling ball to imitate Rocky who had a broken foot at the time. Dennis tells Roman, “You were the good twin,” which deeply touches him. Sweeney mentions that this anecdote was created spontaneously during filming. He explains that it’s touching because Dennis is giving something back to Roman, not trying to emotionally control him. The challenge was making this feel natural and selfless, and Sweeney finds the scene heartbreaking but hopeful about forgiveness and its potential.

At the end of their meal, the server approaches the table and inquires if they need anything more. Glancing at her simultaneously, Dennis and Roman request a takeout box. Regardless of their shared past experiences, there’s an inescapable bond between them that surfaces in this instance. Whether they choose to rekindle their friendship or bid farewell forever, they seem like spiritual counterparts for one another.

The movie may inspire passionate discussions among its audience, a phenomenon that Sweeney welcomes. He prefers not to express his own interpretations of the film’s ending. Instead, he values this aspect of art as a way for it to be released and eventually belong to the viewers. He encourages people to ponder and debate about it with their friends. Sweeney has been pleasantly surprised by the generally warm and compassionate response towards Dennis. Upon its commercial release, he wonders if this sentiment will persist. Perhaps there is optimism for America.

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2025-09-05 18:06