Dead Ringers

Title: Dead Ringers
Director: David Cronenberg
Cast: Jeremy Irons, Geneviève Bujold, Shirley Douglas
Year: 1988
MPAA: Not Rated
Date of Review: October 15, 2007

Being a huge fan of David Cronenberg’s films, I’ve kind of been kicking myself for a long while for having not seen Dead Ringers. I count several of his films among my favorites - from his quasi-existential adaptation of Burroughs’ bible of weirdness, Naked Lunch, to his Matrix-esque journey into video gaming, eXistenZ. And, having heard from many people that Dead Ringers is his best film, it was getting a little painful to not be able to join in on the discussion.

Now let me just get it right out in the open - Dead Ringers is Cronenberg’s best film, hands down. It takes so many of the concepts that he has toyed with in both previous and later films and blends them together so seamlessly and effortlessly that it is just a joy to watch. Though, the joy would simply be in seeing these elements come together - and in seeing an altogether brilliant film - because it is quite heartbreakingly sad.

Jeremy Irons plays the Mantle twins - Elliot and Beverley - who are both brilliant gynecologists practicing in Toronto. Elliot is an extrovert. A ladies man. A social butterfly whose brilliance extends into his people skills. He does the public speaking for the pair, and attends any meetings or social gatherings that would only require one of them to appear. Beverley, on the other hand, is an introverted book worm. He finds greater solace in the clutches of his research than in the arms of a woman, and really has no desire to change this. But while the two insist that they lead separate lives and have separate identities, they also strive to share all of their landmark experiences with each other - and that includes the love of a woman.

And ultimately it is the love of a woman that begins their separation. As they try to “share” the love of Clare, the neurotic actress played by Geneviève Bujold, it becomes apparent to them both how different they really are. Where there may have been some blurred line between the two characters, there is now a very visible crease between the two identical men.

Something instantly noticeable about Dead Ringers is the fact that, while it embodies so many of Cronenberg’s consistent themes, it’s quite possibly his most subdued work. There are one or two slightly graphic images, but nothing comparable to, say, his magnum-opus of vulgarity entitled Videodrome. While most of his other films are filled with gruesome images of vaginally shaped monsters and overtly sexual symbolism, he instead opts to let the story take precedence over the gruesome visuals. That’s not to say, though, that the film doesn’t have Cronenberg’s wonderful visual style - it’s still perfectly intact. There are plenty of striking images and uses of colour throughout the film to keep any fan of the Master of Venereal Horror pleased. But don’t go in looking for Marilyn Chambers with a vagina monster sticking out of her armpit, because you’re not going to get it.

It’s interesting to note - especially after having seen the film - that Jeremy Irons was actually not Cronenberg’s choice for the role. Apparently, Irons was somewhat of a frustrated attempt at just getting someone to fill the role, as Cronenberg’s first and only choice for the role was William Hurt. To imagine anyone other than Jeremy Irons in the roles of the Mantle Twins seems almost blasphemous, though, as he is just so perfect. He plays both roles with equal power and subtlety, making it easy to see both how one could mistake them for each other, but also how easily it is to tell them apart. And in case you’re worried, the twin aspect is not used as a gimmick, as it so often is in other films using this plot device. The concept of twins is looked at from many angles throughout the film, making it apparent that the character couldn’t just be colleagues or best friends - or even just regular brothers.

It’s hard to keep from gushing about this film, because it was just so wonderful. Cronenberg fans definitely owe it to themselves to seek it out and give it a view. The newly available 15th anniversary DVD by Anchor Bay is actually just the Criterion disc with the Anchor Bay logo thrown in a couple of places, so it’s definitely worth a purchase. Cronenberg will be lucky if he can ever outdo himself, as this film arguably represents the peak of his storytelling skills.

10 / 10