Dead Ringers
Elliot, a successful gynecologist, works at the same practice as his identical twin, Beverly. Elliot is attracted to many of his patients and has affairs with them. When he inevitably loses interest, he will give the woman over to Beverly, the meeker of the two, without the woman knowing the difference. Beverly falls hard for one of the patients, Claire, but when she inadvertently deceives him, he slips into a state of madness.
Critics Sentiment
Beverly disembowels Elliot with surgical instrument to separate them
Claire departs for film work sending Beverly into depression
The film drops significantly when Claire leaves and the drug addiction plot takes over, but surges dramatically for the climactic separation sequence.
Critics consistently praised Jeremy Irons' dual performance and Cronenberg's psychological complexity throughout. The film maintains strong reception through the setup and relationship dynamics, dips during the middle drug addiction section, then reaches its peak with the disturbing yet beautiful climactic sequence that many reviewers called masterful.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 42
Jeremy Irons
Beverly Mantle / Elliot Mantle
Geneviève Bujold
Claire Niveau
Heidi von Palleske
Cary
Barbara Gordon
Danuta
Shirley Douglas
Laura
Stephen Lack
Wolleck / Anders Wolleck
Nick Nichols
Leo
Lynne Cormack
Arlene
Damir Andrei
Birchall
Miriam Newhouse
Mrs. Bookman
David Hughes
Superintendent
Richard W. Farrell
Dean of Medicine
Warren Davis
Anatomy Class Supervisor
Marsha Moreau
Raffaella
Denis Akiyama
Pharmacist
Dee McCafferty
Surgeon
Jane Luk
Lecture-Hall Nurse
Jill Hennessy
Mimsy
David Cronenberg
Obstetrician (uncredited)
Bob Bainborough
Mr. Glaser
Crew
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