THE TWIN -- A Shudder Original that Depends on Maternal Instincts a Little Too Much but Looks Good

Review by Dan Skip Allen

Shudder Originals have been around for a little while now. They and a few other studios like Neon, A24, and Blumhouse have brought the horror genre back into the public consciousness. They bring out a few films every year that are a pleasant surprise in this genre. The Twin is the latest film from them that is worth seeing by the masses.

A couple is on a road trip and gets into a car accident. They have two twin sons, Nathan & Elliot. These two brothers have a very close connection, as twins usually do. After the accident, the couple and their remaining son move to a new home to get away from their past. However, their new home and town have some strange happenings.

The Twin falls back on a lot of horror movie tropes. It relies on jump scares and twists to get the viewer invested in the film and its characters. Besides the title character, the movie's primary focus is on the mother of the children (Teresa Palmer, Lights Out, Warm Bodies). She is the heart and soul of the film. We, as the viewers, are totally connected to her story and her plight.

Any mother would be distraught by losing a child and become protective of their other children. This woman goes to the next level to protect her remaining son. As a twin myself, we are tied inexplicably to our siblings. My brother and I were super close as kids. We did everything together. It's like losing a limb as a child who has a twin brother or sister. This film doubles down on the emotions of the mother and remaining son. It's a good film about maternal instincts and connection.

The horror aspects are strong as well. The director, Taneli Mustonen, is a Finish filmmaker, and he uses some solid camera work and cinematography to depict the world of these characters and their home. The film has a darker tone but works very well for what this film is trying to do. It has a lot of greys and darkness, setting the atmosphere.

The Twin hit home for me because I am a twin myself. The motherly instincts and maternal aspects of the film were very interesting. Teresa Palmer led this film in those regards. The horror aspects were decent as well. It's hard for filmmakers to get away from popular horror movie tropes. This director did the best he could with the material he had to work with. Shudder brings some new originals every year, some are good, and some aren't. This one was worth the watch.

The Twin hits theaters, VOD, and Shudder on May 6.
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Rating: 3/5