Thanks to a rather misleading title, I mistook “The Skeleton Twins” for a horror movie; but upon watching it, I realized it was a tale of estranged twins, Maggie and Milo Dean (played by SNL alumni Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader respectively). The twins meet up after a decade, brought together by Milo’s attempted suicide after a botched relationship and a career gone down the drain.
As they address their own issues, they also end up finding consolation in each other. They are also forced to face their own demons and persevere despite hurdles, which include a runaway mom who makes a comeback much to the twins’ chagrin, a pedophilic teacher who sexually abused Milo in his youth and to whom the vulnerable and depressed Milo is dangerously still attracted to since he’s the only one who ‘treats him right,’ and a sex addiction that could possibly end Maggie’s happy marriage.
A Simple Story with Many Heartwarming Moments
The story of “The Skeleton Twins” is simple and features heartwarming moments galore. For example, we have scenes where the siblings play dress-up and Milo embraces his inner drag queen as well as a charming and foot-tapping dance duet set to the ’80s hit “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” by Starship that showcases the outstanding camaraderie between Wiig and Hader.
The film further translates beautifully from paper to screen due its formidable performances. Bill Hader is by far one of my favourite comedians. But here as Milo (he refers to himself as ‘a gay cliche’), he shows he also possesses brilliant dramatic range. He is flawless as the flawed character and viewers feels Milo’s pain flow through the screen.
Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader in “The Skeleton Twins.” (Photo: Duplass Brothers Productions).
Relatability and Humor go Hand-in-Hand with ‘The Skeleton Twins’
As someone who also suffers from depression, I also resonated with this character’s experiences. Kristen Wiig too delivers an effortless dramatic performance; together both her and Hader excel at exchanging humorous zingers in true sibling-esque fashion, while also realistically depicting the twins when they’re at their most tumultuous. Luke Wilson, Ty Burell, and others lend ample support in their respective, well-sketched out characters too.
The cinematography by Reed Morano is visually-enticing, and it’s not hard to note the subtle symbolism and imagery during scenes. While “The Skeleton Twins” features visually-appealing scenes, it doesn’t hesitate to scrape away at the outer layer of this beauty. Even something as deeply harrowing and ugly as self harm is captured in an artistic tone, in hues of blue that evoke both calm and melancholia, and which is guaranteed to remain ingrained in the minds of viewers… Much like the movie itself.
“The Skeleton Twins” is available to stream on Apple TV and most streaming platforms.
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