Review of Dead Ringers (1988) by Johan S — 26 Jul 2011
This is easily Cronenberg's unqualified masterpiece. The complex and ridiculously seamless performance orchestrated by Jeremy Irons is one of the most brilliant I've ever seen. Beverly and Elliot's symbiotic, narcissistic and homoerotic relationship drives the film and it's hard to tell in the end where one ends and the other begins.
The "intrusion" of Genevieve Bujold's character causes a sort of separation anxiety between the twins and thus begins their downward spiral into delusion and madness. David Cronenberg creates some truly memorable scenes with less than the usual amount of gore he's regularly known for and it works perfectly here.
Repulsion, revulsion and a sickening sense of dread pervade the events unfolding on the screen, yet I could not turn away. Can two people share the same essence of being? Jeremy Irons and David Cronenberg make it seem frightfully so.
This review of Dead Ringers (1988) was written by Johan S on 26 Jul 2011.
Dead Ringers has generally received positive reviews.
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