Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7514 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-01-31
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 111 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Like many other films by Canadian director David Cronenberg (especially Crash), Dead Ringers presents 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 Ringers becomes 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.

Special Features
1.85 Wide Screen
DVD 5
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital Stereo English
Dolby Digital Stereo
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
None

Synopsis
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.

Customer Reviews

Cronenberg, Irons tour-de-force
'Dead Ringers' may indeed be David Cronenberg's best film. Jeremy Irons performance is truly extraordinary. As for not being able to tell the difference between the two brothers, I could sense immediately which brother was which by simple body language and how each brother carried himself. Which is a testiment to the subtlties of Iron's acting, that he could make you believe he was two different people at the same time on screen. This belief was also helped by the amazing motion control camera sequences which allowed Irons to "act with himself" in the same frame. The clean perpendicular lines of the twins' appartment was especially chosen to make it easier to cut the film together.

Viewers should be warned beforehand that 'Dead Ringers' is not a horror movie, it's more of a psychological character study. The twin brothers have an unusual gendered relationship. Elliot as the suave unfeeling male who's "no good with the serious ones" and Beverly, with the girl's name, as the the sensitive, caring female. Soon they come to realize that they are one physical entity, forever separated as two physical beings.

In talking about the film Cronenberg has said that men have proven to be much more squeamish about this film than women as lying on the gynecological chair is an experience that many women have gone through. Yet many men have no idea what it's like. Cronenberg was fascinated by these doctors who knew more abaout their patients than their husbands did.

The only drawback about this whole project is that the marvellous soundtrack is not available anywhere!

good psychological drama, Jeremy Irons steals the show
Typical Cronenberg film giving trademark Cronenberg feeling: original, intellectual, weird and mind-blowing. But soo slow and monotonous most of the time, but that's O.K. The film tells the self-destruction story of brilliant twins who grow up to be successful gynecologists Elliot and Beverly; the former is dominant, extrovert, controlled and ladies man; and the latter, more sensitive, shy and less sociable. The twins share virtually everything, from medical practices to women. But, the real story begins when a famous actress enters into twins life. After her, the equilibrium between the twins starts deteriorating, until both retreating into private disintegration and finally heading to own self-destruction.

I must say that the real treat of the film is Jeremy Irons, who delivers a standout performance in a dual role, succeeding to impersonate twins as substantially different people.

With its strong psychological elements, "Dead Ringers" is a kind of film that you will either love or hate, there is very little middle ground. Ideally suited for mature, patient, intelligent and attentive viewers. Just most Cronenberg films, it deserves a second viewing. The story is not that complicated with full of mysteries need to be untangled but there are lots of subtle details scattered throughout the movie that must be put together to see the whole picture clearer.

Last word about the product: Contrary to the movie, the DVD is just a "bare to bones" disc. Audio options and DVD transfer is poor, pictures are grainy, and of course it lacks any special features. What a shame... (3.8/5.0)

Cronenberg fans will be disappointed by few visceral shocks
Dead Ringers lacks a sustained sense of horror and fascination with the body that is apparent in many other Cronenberg films. Certainly there are visceral shocks, but they are few and far between. Cronenberg has instead gone for characterisation, which is by no means a bad thing. This tale of twin brothers linked by psychical/spiritual/supernatural means is made more sinister by the fact they are both gynaecologists. This provides Cronenberg with a means to splatter his scenes with a bit of claret now and again. But it also injects the idea of physical subversion into the film; for instance, his characters talk about beauty being on the inside - not in the conventional sense - but as in how beautiful our organs actually are. It is almost as if our ovaries or fallopian tubes or wombs should be displayed on the outside of our bodies, such is their beauty. There is also a theme of body invasion, even rape, that also threads a dark strand through this film. As one brother falls in love with a drug-addicted actress and begins to fall foul of the drugs himself, the other can only watch in pity as he self-destructs. But these brothers are linked and whatever happens to one, must happen to the other, at least that is what the twins believe. Thus the remaining sober twin soon ends up a drug-addict as well and they both degenerate until the inevitable happens in a nasty, but restrained conclusion that almost satisfies. This is a downbeat film with few laughs, but it does throw up some interesting themes. The casting of Jeremy Irons as both twins, Beverly and Elliot Mantle, is inspired as their gaunt and haunted faces seem to reflect perfectly their strange obsessions. Unfortunately, Geneveve Bujold is poor and seems to overact quite remerkably, giving the film a kind of B-movie and cheap feel, when it could have been an even slicker horror. Full marks must also go the set and costume designers as the stark red surgeon's gowns contrast with the sterile blue walls of the operating theatre to provide us with the bloody, visceral feel that is lacking elsewhere. Well worth a look. But non-Cronenberg fans be warned; it is pretty strange.