Stars: Jeremy Irons, Genevieve Bujold, Heidi Von Palleske, Barbara Gordon, David Hughes

Director: David Cronenberg

Summary: This psychological thriller tells the bizarre story of identical twin brothers, Elliot and Beverly Mantle. They both become successful doctors and share a clinic in Toronto - they seem inseparable - until they begin to share the affections of the lovely actress, Claire Niveau.

Cronenberg coaxes a phenomenal performance out of Irons in this disturbing tale of Beverly and Elliot Mantle-twin gynecologists who literally can't exist without each other, sharing everything from an apartment to women. When a glamorous, neurotic actress (Bujold) enters into their world, she upsets the delicate balance between the brothers, sending them into a world of confusion and destruction. This dark, eerie, multi-layered drama may stand as Cronenberg's masterpiece. Loosely based on the true case of the Marcus Twins and the resulting novel TWINS by Bari Wood.

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Like many other films by Canadian director David Cronenberg (especially Crash), Dead Ringerspresents the cinematic and psychological equivalent of an automobile accident--you dare not look, but you can't turn away. The film marked a directorial breakthrough for Cronenberg, who was able to continue some of the themes explored in his earlier horror films while graduating to a higher, more critically "respectable" level of artistic sophistication. The film is loosely based, amazingly enough, on a true story about twin gynaecologists who routinely traded each others' identities, lives and even lovers. Utilizing innovative split-screen technology (years before computer manipulation made such trickery much easier), the film stars Jeremy Irons in flawless dual roles as the identical brothers Beverly and Elliot Mantle. Their ability to instantly switch identities leads them to a shared relationship with a well-known actress (Genevieve Bujold) and, ultimately, a physical and psychological tailspin that sends them both to the brink of madness and death. The scenario suggests that both men are halves of a whole, and that one cannot exist without the other. But when Beverly pursues a kinky, drug-addicted affair with the actress, his more self-controlled brother is helpless to prevent their mutual decline. In this way Dead Ringersbecomes a fascinating and stylistically clinical study of duality, and Cronenberg doesn't shy away from the dark and unpleasant aspects of the story. (One look at the movie's display of bizarre gynaecological instruments and you'll know why women find this film particularly--and unforgettably--disturbing.) The Criterion Collection DVD includes illuminating commentary by Cronenberg, Irons, production designer Carol Spier and others; extensive production information; interviews with the principal cast; and a detailed examination of the film's groundbreaking use of invisible special effects. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com--This text refers to the DVD edition of this video.

Aspect Ratio:	1.85 Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Interactive Menus, Scene Access
Subtitles:	None
Year:	1988
Release Date:	January 31, 2000
Runtime:	111 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	37115 00293
Label:	Silver Collection
Keywords:	Dead, General, Ringers, Wide, Screen, Thriller, Psychological
Genre:	Thriller