‘Twinless’ is a typical Sundance movie – until it’s not

James Sweeney’s buzzed-about dramedy doubles down on its surprises

The Sundance Film Festival is running through Sunday in Park City, Utah, and tickets are also available to watch many of the films online.

I don’t remember if I’ve seen a film that uses the fact that it’s premiering at the Sundance Film Festival (where it just won the U.S. Dramatic Competition prize) quite as effectively as writer-director James Sweeney’s “Twinless” does in playing with audience expectations.

At first, it seems like a classic low-key Sundance dramedy. “Twinless” stars a never-better Dylan O’Brien as Roman, who has come home to Seattle to grieve the unexpected death of his twin brother Rocky (also O’Brien in flashbacks). While Rocky was charismatic and well-liked, Roman is a bit of an inarticulate lunkhead, and Roman is definitely getting subtle “the wrong kid died” vibes from the family, especially his mother (a criminally underused Lauren Graham).

Roman goes to a support group for people grieving a lost twin, and meets Dennis (Sweeney), who is mourning the loss of his own twin brother. Dennis reminds Roman a little of Rocky, who was also gay, and as the two men become friends it seems as if they might be able to act as sort of surrogate siblings for each other.

So far so good – although Sweeney’s screenplay does have odd flashes of peculiar humor, such as the grief counselor who tries out her standup routine, that you would think would undercut the human drama. No matter, I thought, dismissing the gags as the product of a young screenwriter who doesn’t quite have a handle on his movie’s nuanced tone.

Except that those jokes have a purpose. They keep us off-balance and a little uncertain, softening us up so that when Sweeney lowers the boom and reveals the big twist of “Twinless,” it hits that much harder. Without spoiling anything, I’ll just say that the movie adds elements of a psychological thriller into the mix without losing touch with either the riotous comedy or poignant drama.

A less assured filmmaker might not be able to juggle all the narrative surprises, or lose the emotional thread along the way. “Twinless” never does. Even though some of these characters do some very unlikable things, they never lose our empathy because we understand how grief is driving their decisions. Sweeney plays Dennis as a funny, prickly and well-rounded character that you feel for even when you know you shouldn’t, and O’Brien finds hidden depths to Roman as he tries to overcome his self-loathing.

Aisling Franciosi also pops as a cheerful secretary at Dennis’ firm – what looks like a one-note comedic performance adds shadings and emotions as she becomes surprisingly integral to the plot. And Sweeney carefully composes every shot for maximum comedic or dramatic effect, depending on what the moment calls for.

“Twinless” is technically Sweeney’s second feature, and has been picked up for distribution by Paramount’s Republic Pictures. Hopefully it will lead to bigger and better things from him – although next time, I’ll be ready to have the rug pulled out from under me.