Twins (2024)

Short Run + No Context = Zero Sense

I have so far only submitted reviews for BLs/dramas that I truly enjoyed, to help like-minded folks find their way to the same shows. But today, I'm making an exception. Consider this review an "enter at your own risk" sign.

I have no issues with accepting whatever premise a writer puts forward in order to appreciate a story within the bounds of that premise. But Twins gave me no context, so its ending made zero sense to me. I didn't know whether to view it through the lenses of a psychological thriller or speculative fiction, and because of that, I was left confused at the end.

I can forgive an ending that I don't necessarily like if I at least enjoyed the journey that got me there , whether it's a full-length BL/drama or a short form series (A Balloon's Landing, The Best Story, and I Fell In Love with Someone of the Same Sex are a few examples off the top of my head). But this story fell flat --- weak character development, acting that failed to create emotional resonance, music that did nothing to underscore what was happening on the screen, and just an overall lack of energy (among other things).

Total run time is 11 mins. 35 secs. Needless to say, I won't be watching it again. You can choose to still watch it, since it won't take up too much of your time, but I personally want my 11 mins. and 35 secs. back. Lots of other things I can do with that time.

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Too short to really exploit the potential of the story

This very short BL movie (only 11 minutes) depicts the unexpected hookup of a guy with the twin brother of his ex. Does it sound messy ? Yes. Does it sound interesting ? Yes (-at least to me). Unfortunately, despite me finding the idea interesting, there is not enough time to really exploit it. The short movie has an interesting twist as well but again, it is too short to really make something ultra impactful of it.

The acting was relatively average, nothing really outstanding but I think it might be due to the format. The actor playing the twins managed to create two characters that felt distinct enough but it could have been better. That's said the script was minimalist enough to not have that much to play with. Production value felt limited, not a lot to see there but suitable for the format. Music was also not memorable at all.

I would not necessarily recommend this to people unless you are looking for a short BL with a messy premise. I'm left to wonder if a slightly longer format would have help amping the stakes and emotions for the characters.

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