Dead Ringers

R

Released Sep 23, 1988

1 hr. 55 min.

Horror

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

List

85%

48 Reviews

Tomatometer

82%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Elliot (Jeremy Irons), a successful gynecologist, works at the same practice as his identical twin, Beverly (also Irons). 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 (Geneviève Bujold), but when she inadvertently deceives him, he slips into a state of madness.

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Critics Consensus

Dead Ringers serves up a double dose of Jeremy Irons in service of a devilishly unsettling concept and commandingly creepy work from director David Cronenberg.

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Thom G

Dead Ringers is an original, disturbing, and compelling film with philosophical depth. It rightfully earns its status as a classic in the horror genre!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/27/24

Full Review

jwcdood

Jeremy Irons does a superb job of playing identical twins. However, WARNING: DEAD RINGERS is real life horror with no redeeming features. It's a seriously twisted story of extremely dark madness and is very cold and uncomfortable to watch. After it ends, that coldness and discomfort will definitely be hard to shake.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/26/23

Full Review

David W

Dead Ringers may have a plot that meanders broadly with its storyline, but it's nevertheless a unique and intriguing concept. While it's more of a thriller than a horror, Cronenberg manages to tap into his body horror credentials with a few choice scenes. Even with a storyline that could be more focused, I would definitely watch this again.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/21/24

Full Review

Alec B

The movie lacks Cronenberg's typically grotesque violence and yet it may be his most disturbing work. The reasons for this are obvious but it's impressive how Cronenberg can still terrify you with mere ideas and implications. Iron's performances here are unbelievable.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/13/23

Full Review

A.L.Jude P

Irons makes the difference between normal, predictable and a brilliance.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/17/23

Full Review

Jelisije J

One of the more twisted but unique movies that I had ever seen.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/15/23

Full Review

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David Cronenberg

Director

Jeremy Irons

Beverly Mantle

Geneviève Bujold

Claire Niveau

Heidi von Palleske

Cary

Barbara Gordon

Danuta

Shirley Douglas

Laura

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Variety Staff

Variety

Director David Cronenberg handles his usual fondness for gore in muted style.

Sep 24, 2007

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

People like myself who find the character played by [Genevieve] Bujold (in one of her best performances) more interesting than either of the twins are bound to feel rather frustrated by the end.

Sep 24, 2007

Full Review

Nigel Floyd

Time Out

An intense psychological drama which confronts [Cronenberg's] familiar preoccupations -- fear of physical and mental disintegration, mortality, the power struggle between the sexes -- without the paradoxical protection of visceral disgust.

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

Justine Smith

Vague Visages

The force of superstition cast represents an accidental, perfect moment in an imperfect world. Without abandoning the clinical environment, Cronenberg draws on the myths of Janus and the miracles of the Satyricon...

Nov 21, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Cronenberg turns this based-on-fact story into a genuine creep show.

Rated: 3/4

May 31, 2023

Full Review

Jennie Kermode

Eye for Film

A sensitive yet intellectually robust work.

Rated: 5/5

May 11, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Elliot (Jeremy Irons), a successful gynecologist, works at the same practice as his identical twin, Beverly (also Irons). 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 (Geneviève Bujold), but when she inadvertently deceives him, he slips into a state of madness.

Director: David Cronenberg
Executive Producer: Carol Baum, Sylvio Tabet, James G. Robinson, Joe Roth
Screenwriter: David Cronenberg, Norman Snider
Distributor: 20th Century Fox, Media Home Entertainment, Criterion Collection, Image Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Morgan Creek Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 23, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 22, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.3M
Sound Mix: Surround

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