Twinless, directed, produced, and written by James Sweeney actually surprised me, pleasantly. What begins as a low-key, emotionally natural exploration of grieving eventually degenerates into something far stranger, far deeper, and far more intense.

The film follows Dean (played by Sweeney) and Roman (played by Dylan O’Brien), two guys who bond at a support group for individuals who’ve lost their twin siblings. Roman is working through the recent death of his twin, Rocky, and shares a surprising tale of connection with Dean, who has had the same experience. The first 20 minutes take that sorrow seriously and slowly and then the film flips on its head.

Without giving too much away, O’Brien plays both Roman and Rocky, and it’s the best performance of his career and this role proves his range. Rocky, the twin who has passed, was openly gay, and O’Brien plays him with a vibrant, heartfelt charm that’s equal parts funny, tender, and magnetic. Roman, on the other hand, is more uptight emotionally and direct aka your typical straight man, making the double act all the more effective.

Dean, gay himself, is an emotional anchor for the film. His interactions with both Roman and Rocky allow the film to explore queerness, grief, memory, and identity in nuanced and surprising ways. The character dynamic is rich and multidimensional, full of yearning, connection, and misunderstanding that feels deeply human.

Sweeney’s writing and directing hit a nerve, Twinless explores the pain of losing a sibling, adult relationships as messy as they are, and the strange ways we hold on to love, identity, and memory. There is a scene with Roman where he weeps about his brother that is absolutely shattering.

Even though it’s billed as a comedy, I’d call Twinless more of a dark comedy or dramedy. There are absurd moments, especially a wild funeral scene but the emotional depth keeps it grounded. The film also taps into our cultural fascination with twins (yes, Mary-Kate and Ashley are referenced), and speaks to that almost universal curiosity about what it means to be deeply, psychically connected to someone else.

The cinematography is beautiful, the tone is unusual, and the story is so new and fresh that it’s incomparable to anything else this year.

Short version: Twinless is one of my personal favorites of 2025. It’s off-kilter, funny, honest, queer, and heartbreakingly understated. I don’t say enough about it, and I’m excited and hopeful for Dylan O’ Brien to receive some recognition for his performance in this film.