SERIES REVIEW – David Cronenberg’s 1988 film Dead Ringers was about a pair of twin doctors whose relationship is ruined by a woman. In the series based on the film, the twins’ sexes have been changed and Rachel Weisz plays the two gynaecologists who embark on a revolutionary experiment. The series not only depicts the physical and psychological distortions, but also explores the issues of childbearing and motherhood from a female perspective. Dead Ringers is a gripping and shocking psychological thriller in which Weisz deserves every award. In Prime Video’s new psychothriller, the actress, as an identical twin, shows how dangerous it is to play god.

 

 

One of the greatest masters of the body horror genre is David Cronenberg, who shocked audiences with films such as The Fly, Videodrome and Scanners. One of his best films was Two Bodies, One Mind, which followed Jeremy Irons’ identical twin brother and sister.

In the series based on the film, the twins have had their sexes changed and Rachel Weisz plays two gynaecologists who embark on a revolutionary experiment. The series not only depicts the physical and psychological deformities, but also explores the issues of childbearing and motherhood from a female perspective. Dead Ringers is a gripping and shocking psychological thriller in which Weisz deserves every award.

 

 

Playing God: the twins’ experiment

 

The series stars Beverly and Elliot Mantle (Rachel Weisz) as successful gynecologists in New York. They work and live their lives together, often swapping places. Both are committed to their patients and feel they could do more for them. So, with the help of a wealthy investor, they decide to open a private clinic to revolutionise childbearing. A special procedure will enable women who have no chance of becoming pregnant naturally to do so. But the twins ignore the medical rules and the possible consequences. In their experiment, they are not only putting themselves at risk, but also the lives of others.

 

 

Blood bond – The twins’ relationship

 

One of the most interesting aspects of the series is the relationship between the twins, which is both loving and toxic. Beverly and Elliot can’t exist without each other, but they also can’t accept each other’s independence. They often swap places, whether at work or in their personal lives. However, this doesn’t always go smoothly, especially when one falls in love with an actress (Jennifer Ehle) who doesn’t know she has two women.

Love and jealousy create a tension between the twins that endangers their experiment and their lives. The series illustrates the twins’ psychological problems, which are exacerbated by alcohol, drugs and medication. The sibling relationship becomes increasingly sick and violent, with fatal consequences.

 

 

Dead Ringers – one actress, two roles: Rachel Weisz

 

The greatest strength of the series is undoubtedly Rachel Weisz, who creates two completely different characters in one body. Weisz is brilliant as the two gynecologists, who look almost perfectly alike on the outside, but are very different on the inside. Beverly is the more subdued and sensitive twin who has difficulty coping with the pressures of life.

Elliot is the more confident and dominant twin, enjoying all the pleasures of life. Weisz uses subtle gestures and facial expressions to differentiate the two women, whose relationship is deteriorating. Weisz authentically portrays the twins’ emotional rollercoaster ride of love and hate. Weisz’s performance is stunning and poignant and deserves every award she has received.

 

 

Red alert – The mood and the visuals of the series

 

The series retains the red colour scheme of the costumes and sets from the 1988 film, which gives the series a very special atmosphere. The red colour symbolises the blood, passion and danger that are all present in the twins’ lives. The visual style of the series also reflects the body horror genre, in which the human body and mind are dissected, often literally.

The psychological thriller does not skimp on the gory and disgusting scenes, which evoke the shocking vision of Cronenberg. The music also contributes to the tense and oppressive atmosphere in which the twins wallow. Dead Ringers is a visually and acoustically stunning series that will not leave the viewer cold.

 

 

This version would have worked better in a movie, but it’s still great

 

Dead Ringers is a gripping and shocking psychological thriller that lives up to David Cronenberg’s 1988 film and in many ways even surpasses the original. Rachel Weisz is dazzling as two identical twin gynecologists who fail to understand how their revolutionary experiments and other dangerous games are endangering their lives and relationships.

The only problem is perhaps that the events are a bit stale and the plot may sometimes spend too much time on less significant (though also interesting) story threads. For example, the story of the Mantle brothers’ parents, or the relationship between Beverly and the actress, which is of course interesting, but not as long and as much of a scene as it is here. It’s a story basically suited to a film, not a series.

What is really interesting about the series, however, is that it not only follows the body horror genre, but also explores the issues of childbearing and motherhood from a female perspective. Dead Ringers is spectacular, atmospheric and compelling, and Rachel Weisz deserves every award for this performance (or two).

-BadSector-