Dead Ringers
February 27th 2007 07:39
Of course, Dead Ringers (1988) wasn’t immediately recongised for the masterwork that it is. Like John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982) and George Romero’s Day of the Dead (1985), it took several years or more for the cult following to spread into general acceptance that the film is a brilliant study of ambition, corruption, love and loneliness.
Cronenberg based his screenplay (co-written with Norman Snider) on a book which in turn was inspired by an newspaper article about successful doctors, the Marcus twins, who were discovered dead in their Upper East Side Manhattan apartment which had become a scene of utter degradation. They had died due to withdrawal from barbiturate addiction.
Originally called Gemini, which the studio didn’t like, so it was changed to Twins (terrible title, but then I’m not a great fan of Dead Ringers as the substitute either), however producer Ivan Reitman talked to Cronenberg and purchased the title rights for his upcoming Danny DeVito/Arnold Schwarzenegger comedy.
One of their famous clientele is Claire Niveau (Genevieve Bujold, also superb), a movie star. Beverly, the shy introverted brother, immediately falls for her. But it is Elliot, the ladies man, who seduces her first. And like all twins who share, Claire is shared. But it is unbeknownst to her. It seems the Mantle twins have a dark side. And this soon eclipses everything.
Cronenberg has always been fascinated by the body and its various states of physical strength and mortal decay. He has also been intrigued by the psychological states of mind that influence the body, both metaphysically and biologically. Dead Ringers is more subtle in his exploration of body horror, but no less powerful, more about the disintegration of the mind, than of the visceral impact of gore. In fact, it is the subtleties within Dead Ringers that make it his most resonant, disturbing, yet quietly exhilarating film.
Dead Ringers is a stunning looking film. The hot-cool palate of lush reds and metallic blues juxtaposed from cinematographer Peter Suschitzky amidst the straight formal lines courtesy of Cronenberg’s regular production designer Carol Spier. It’s Cronenberg’s most stylized film. The impressive special effects used to enable Jeremy Irons to interact with himself were the first of its kind.
Howard Shore’s score is also a highlight. The brooding orchestral strings help convey a very profound sense of sadness and despair. These clever men reduced to insufferable, disturbed children, trying to pick the broken pieces up and mend them, but they can only rupture their tender wounds, doomed in their own undoing.
But it is the extraordinary work of Jeremy Irons in the dual role of the Mantle twins and Cronenberg’s ferociously intelligent direction which ultimately makes Dead Ringers one of the best horror-dramas ever made. A melancholic mediation on existence and a must for discerning horror fans, while being essential viewing for any true cinephile.
Precious little on youtube ... but here's a wee taste, featuring the real life Hennesey twins as voluptuous room service for the hedonistic Elliot Mantle:
* the images on this page are courtesy of www.davidcronenberg.de
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Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
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Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Crazy film that messed with my head for months afterwards..
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
yeah, it's pure craft, through and through ... one of those superb screenplays for me that keeps rewarding like Withnail and I ...
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
yeah, it's pure craft, through and through ... one of those superb screenplays for me that keeps rewarding like Withnail and I ...
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
Great review.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Yeah, the production design on the film is sensational! I too love Cronenberg's love of the grotesque and the beautiful .... his whole body horror thing.
Comment by Anonymous