Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Review: Dead Ringers (1988)

Definitely another masterpiece of Cronenberg. Of course, Jeremy Irons is phenomenal. The subtle character work he does as each twin is mesmerizing here. I was completely engrossed the entire running time right up to the tragic finale. Geneviève Bujold is also amazing. You really see how complex human relationships can be and all the different psychological factors that come into play. At first, it's just amusing the way the twins unknowingly switch with their partners or patients but then once real love strikes, it takes a dark turn especially when Bev's fragile nature comes into play. It's pretty heartbreaking. On the other hand, the opening is quite funny when the twins, just mere boys, casually ask a next door girl for sex in a bathtub to conduct their own scientific experiment without realizing how inappropriate that request is. It sets them up quite well (science geeks) and even foreshadows where they will get in trouble in the future (relationships with women). The writing is brilliant and clever. The final image horrific and aching with real pain. One of my top Cronenberg films.