The Other One

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DanTheMan 2 A distinctly Mexican variant on the time-honoured Evil Twin plot, La Otra is proof that if you think your own sibling rivalry is bad, at least your sister probably isn't plotting to steal your entire life, unless she is, in which case you should maybe reconsider sharing a bathroom. A noir gem where every shadow is up to no good, every close-up feels like a threat, every fur coat hides a secret, and every raised eyebrow feels like a murder attempt. It's all drenched in velvet shadows and impeccable 1940s style, thanks largely to the fantastic direction of Roberto Gavaldón. There's a remarkable amount of technical prowess and commitment to classical storytelling on display here, complete with a daring sense of invention in the camerawork. It's a gripping piece of melodrama that could have so easily been played for laughs, but Gavaldón is bold enough to enlist his audience on María's side. Not, perhaps, in overt complicity with her crime, but rather in a deep-rooted emotional identification with her longing for a better life. It works so wonderfully in tandem with Dolores del Río's deliciously dramatic dual performances that you'll spend half the film wondering if she's acting or just working through something very personal. While Raúl Lavista's musical score wasn't entirely to my taste, thanks to the excessive use of the dreaded theremin, it barely detracts from the engrossing narrative at work, if you ignore La Otra's bewildering denouement that is. Moral of the story: if your twin shows up in a fur coat looking stressed and complaining about life… run. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/21/25 Full Review Audience Member Que peliculon! El mejor thriller mexicano que he visto, Dolores del Rio esta maravillosa y la historia me mantuvo atrapado de principio a fin. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Other One

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