You've seen the mask. Those creepy, burlap-sack faces with the stitched-on grins and the empty eye holes. If you’ve spent any time in the fandom for Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, the Twins are probably burned into your brain. But honestly, if you only watched the Tim Burton movie, you’re missing about half the story.
The "Peculiar Twins" are a bit of a weird case in Ransom Riggs' universe because they represent the biggest gap between the original novels and the big-screen adaptation. They’re eerie. They’re silent. And frankly, they’re one of the best examples of how a single visual can redefine an entire franchise's marketing, even if the characters themselves barely exist in the source material.
The Mystery of the Twins in the Books vs. the Movie
Let’s get one thing straight: if you crack open the first book looking for the iconic masked twins from the movie posters, you’re going to be looking for a long time. They aren’t there. Well, not exactly.
In the original Ransom Riggs novels, the characters we think of as "The Twins" are actually just two minor background characters mentioned in passing. They don't have a massive role. They don't have a world-ending power that saves the day in the final act. They are just... there. Part of the scenery of Miss Peregrine’s loop.
When Tim Burton took the reins for the 2016 film, he leaned heavily into the aesthetic of the vintage photographs that inspired the books. He needed something visually arresting. Something that screamed "Gothic horror for teens." He found a photo of two children in white, ornate costumes and decided that this was the soul of the movie.
In the film, their peculiarity is actually a massive spoiler (which we’ll get to), whereas in the books, the "twins" mentioned are usually the brothers Ramis and Andrus, who are basically just normal peculiar kids. The movie versions are a different beast entirely.
What is Their Peculiarity, Anyway?
In the movie, the Twins are kept masked for a very specific, very dangerous reason. They are Gorgons. Basically, if they show their faces, anyone who looks at them turns to stone.
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It’s a classic mythological trope, but it works so well in this setting. Throughout most of the film, they just stand there. They don't talk. They don't play. They just exist as this looming, creepy presence. It’s only during the battle at the Blackpool pier that they finally whip off the hoods.
Pop. One look, and a hollowgast is turned into a statue. It’s a "Deus Ex Machina" moment if there ever was one, but it’s undeniably cool.
However, book purists often find this annoying. In the world of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, peculiarities are usually more grounded in a sort of "biological weirdness" rather than straight-up Greek mythology. Making them Gorgons felt a bit "Hollywood" to some. But hey, it sold a lot of Halloween costumes.
The Real Vintage Photography Connection
Ransom Riggs didn't just write a story; he curated a collection of real, "found" vernacular photographs. This is the secret sauce of the series. Most of the photos in the books are authentic, unretouched vintage shots from personal archives.
The Twins were inspired by a real-life photograph of two children in traditional Spanish "Nazareno" or similar festival costumes. These costumes often involve tall, pointed hoods and face coverings that, to a modern secular eye, look incredibly unsettling.
Why the aesthetic works:
- The Uncanny Valley: They look human, but just "off" enough to trigger a flight-or-fight response.
- Anonymity: By hiding their faces, Burton made them a blank canvas for the audience's fears.
- Uniformity: Two identical beings moving in sync is a classic horror trope (thanks, The Shining).
Actually, the use of masks in the film is a clever nod to how many peculiar children in the books have to hide their true nature. Millard is invisible—he doesn't need a mask, he just isn't there. The Twins, however, have to hide because their very existence is a weapon.
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Comparing the "Peculiar" Power Scales
If we look at the internal logic of the series, where do the Twins sit? Honestly, they’re overpowered.
Think about it. Emma Bloom can make fire. Bronwyn is super strong. Enoch can animate the dead for a few minutes. These are useful, sure, but they require effort and have limits. If the Twins are Gorgons, they are essentially walking nuclear options. If they just walked around without masks, they’d win every fight in five seconds.
This is likely why they were relegated to the background for 90% of the movie. You can't have characters that powerful leading the charge, or there’s no tension. It’s the "Superman Problem" applied to creepy Victorian children.
The Legacy of the Twins in Pop Culture
Even though they aren't the main characters—that’s Jacob and Emma—the Twins became the face of the franchise. Go to any bookstore and look at the movie-tie-in editions. It's the Twins. Look at the Funko Pops. People want the Twins.
There’s something about the duality of childhood innocence and monstrous power that we just can’t look away from. It taps into that same vein as The Addams Family or American Horror Story. We like our "monsters" to look like us, but with a twist.
Where the Story Goes Next
If you’ve only seen the movie, you might think the story ends there. It doesn't. The book series spans six novels:
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- Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
- Hollow City
- Library of Souls
- A Map of Days
- The Conference of the Birds
- The Desolations of Devil's Acre
As the series progresses, the world expands way beyond the loop on Cairnholm Island. We see Peculiardom in modern-day America, we learn about the complex politics of the Ymbrynes, and we see the characters grow up. Jacob Portman's journey from a bored Florida teenager to a leader of a revolution is a long, dark, and often weirdly funny road.
How to Actually Dive Into the Lore
If you're genuinely interested in the "Twin" phenomenon or the wider world of the Peculiar, don't stop at the movie. The film is a visual masterpiece, but it takes massive liberties with the plot—switching Emma and Olive’s powers, for instance, was a huge point of contention for fans.
Here is how you should actually consume this franchise:
- Read the books for the logic: The "rules" of time loops and peculiarities are much tighter in the prose.
- Watch the movie for the vibes: Colleen Atwood’s costume design is legendary for a reason. The Twins' outfits are a masterclass in texture and silhouette.
- Check out "Tales of the Peculiar": This is a companion book by Riggs that reads like a book of fairy tales for peculiar children. It explains the origins of many traits and gives much-needed context to the "Gorgon" style powers.
Essentially, the Twins are a bridge. They bridge the gap between the creepy-cool aesthetic of vintage photography and the high-stakes fantasy world of the books. They might be "background" characters in the grand scheme of things, but without them, the franchise wouldn't have nearly the same haunting grip on our collective imagination.
If you're looking to start a collection or just want to understand the hype, start with the first book and pay close attention to the photos. You'll start seeing "peculiarity" everywhere in the real world.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Verify the Photos: Look up the "Tales of the Peculiar" and see the original source photos Ransom Riggs used. It changes how you see the characters.
- Compare the Power Swap: Research why Tim Burton swapped Emma and Olive's powers (Fire vs. Air). It’s a fascinating look into how directors prioritize visual storytelling over book canon.
- Explore the Extended Universe: Read the second trilogy (starting with A Map of Days) to see how the peculiar world adapts to the 21st century.