How Twinless Director James Sweeney Created the Year's Finest Film on Twins, Grief, and Connection

      “I’m mentally editing how I phrase this,” says James Sweeney, the writer, director, producer, and star of the new film Twinless, an elegant black comedy about two men who meet in a support group for those who have lost their twins.

      Sweeney's mental editing stems from the fact that we're speaking in June, while this interview will be published with Twinless’ theatrical release in September. He aims to ensure that none of his responses reveal any of the film's many twists.

      Creating Twinless involved a blend of forward planning and being present in the moment. Sweeney appears in nearly every scene alongside co-star Dylan O’Brien, as they portray the duo who meet in the support group.

      Sweeney’s direction required constant planning and visualization to balance the film's rich visuals with concise storytelling. Twinless flows like a romantic comedy but is intricately plotted like many thrillers. If a character mentions something, it’s likely to resurface in a way that feels both poignant and inevitable.

      From the characters’ initial encounter, where Sweeney’s character, Dennis, is established as gay and O’Brien’s Roman is not, Twinless hints at various possibilities regarding its plot and genre.

      This required considerable mental editing from Sweeney.

      “Dylan and I often discuss how I believe one of the reasons he excels as an actor is due to his presence,” Sweeney notes. “As a director and producer, I spend a lot of time looking ahead, anticipating challenges, and devising solutions before issues arise, which can be quite draining.”

      Sweeney chuckles and adds, “Much of my work as a writer and director revolves around communication. On one side, art is subjective—you hand it over, and it’s no longer yours, open to interpretation. On the flip side, the clearer I can express my intentions, the better chance they’ll come across. I appreciate acting because it compels me to be present and engaged in the moment.”

      James Sweeney on His First ‘Little Shows’

      James Sweeney. Photo by Dylan O’Brien

      Sweeney, now 35, was born near Sacramento and moved frequently as a child due to his father's military career, living in places like North Carolina and Utah. He primarily grew up in Eagle River, Alaska, a suburb of Anchorage, where his parents continue to live.

      He does not have a twin but has an older sister. The ten-year age gap between them has contributed to his sense of independence.

      “I’m a military kid, so I had to start over several times,” he says. “Being introverted and having to reset multiple times led me to create my own worlds with stuffed animals. My cousins and aunts and uncles can share stories about the little shows I put on as a child.”

      He began participating in regional theater in elementary school. “I think my first role was as a chair in Beauty and the Beast,” he laughs. “Just to clarify, it had lines. I wore black and pushed a chair around.”

      He developed a love for television before film, largely due to the limited access he had in Alaska, where there was only one nearby movie theater. Eventually, his passion for writing brought him to film school at Chapman University, initially majoring in screenwriting before switching to an interdisciplinary acting program merging theater and film.

      While at Chapman, he discovered his desire to direct and met his best friend, cinematographer Greg Cotten, who went on to shoot both Sweeney’s first film, Straight Up, in 2019, and Twinless.

      Sweeney was in his early twenties when he wrote the scripts for both Straight Up—about a man who has previously dated men attempting to date a woman—and Twinless.

      “I suppose I'm in a different place now than I was then. However, I am interested in themes of identity and permanence. I also have a fondness for the romantic comedy genre. Relationships fascinate me,” Sweeney shares.

      “Straight Up explores whether our needs can be met by one person—whether that is practical or realistic, especially in today’s world. Romantic comedies often sell the idea of a singular person to complete you, and I try to analyze that through my work.”

      Twinless also examines the concept of people completing one another or falling short of each other’s expectations. While Straight Up centers on Sweeney’s chemistry with the female lead, portrayed by Katie Findlay, Twinless focuses on his dynamic with O’Brien.

      O’Brien began his career by posting original videos on YouTube during his teenage years, leading to his acting career. He is well-known for his roles in MTV's Teen Wolf and the Maze Runner trilogy, and has recently taken on various bold roles, including a young Dan Aykroyd in Saturday Night and a ruthless pimp in Ponyboi.

      Sweeney met O’Brien during the casting process for Twinless.

      “We connected over Zoom during the pandemic. We shared the script with his team, and he read it and watched my film,