Linbeymusol Wonderful character development!

CheerupSilver Very Cool!!!

Sameer Callahan It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

bowmanblue David Cronenberg found fame making pretty 'out there' films which, due to their content, never really received much mainstream attention, destined to become 'cult classics.' His most successful outing was the remake of 'The Fly,' but that was what most people would agree on was an outright 'horror.' Next he made 'Dead Ringers.' It's a story about a pair of identical twins (both played by Jeremy Irons thanks to some clever editing and camera tricks - no CGI here!) who are both brilliant surgeons and yet succumb to some pretty distasteful vices.It looked like Cronenberg had finally left his 'body horror' roots behind, moved through an outright horror film and was now making high-quality dramas with an A-list cast. And, for the first half of the film, you'd be right.If you've never seen any of Cronenberg's previous films, you may not get that weird feeling of 'normality' at just how ordinary the first half of this film is. We meet the twins. As I mentioned, they're both played excellently by Irons - making each of his characters instantly distinguish by their contrasting personalities. They go about their business of being a little too clever for their own good and it does have a 'regular' feeling about it all that would put it in with most other mainstream dramas.Then comes the second half. I know this is kind of a spoiler, but if you're really not into your 'gross-out' moments which involve some pretty disturbing 'body horror' moments then you're going to have to have a sick bag on standby for the second half of this film. It was like Cronenberg was just lulling us into a false sense of security and teasing us with the opening.Maybe this film is more of a horror than Cronenberg's previous efforts because there are no monsters here and nothing hideous that comes from a drug-fuelled nightmare. Everything nasty here comes from real people and Irons makes you believe that the two brothers are quite capable of acting out their crimes.It's certainly not an easy (or light) watch. It's almost two hours long and you really need to give it the respect it deserves by paying attention all the way through. So, if you're in the mood for something that doesn't involve superheroes flying around New York fighting aliens, then give this one a go (if you can stomach the second half!).

Ivan Lalic Good horror movies are the ones that mimic the reality as much as possible and the best ones are those that have their base dug into the psychology. ''Dead Ringers" is one of those flicks, giving us the truly twisted story about the identical twins that share their business and private life seemingly without remorse. Jeremy Irons portrays both characters with a terrifying ease as the script takes the similar dive into the world of true pathology and perversion, climaxing in a saddening end. ''Dead Ringers" is the best Cronenberg's flick and the role Jeremy Irons played in his career.

Leofwine_draca A powerful and disturbing psychological horror film from prolific director David Cronenberg. Unlike Cronenberg's earlier, more straightforward visceral offerings - such as THE FLY and SCANNERS (incidentally, the star of SCANNERS, Stephen Lack, makes an unwelcome cameo appearance), DEAD RINGERS plays it slowly, taking time to create realistic characters (thanks to some superb acting on behalf of the leads) and building up a horrifying story. This film really makes an impression on you and is chilling to the extreme. Jeremy Irons gives what I believe to be one of his finest performances in the dual roles of the twin brothers, conveying sadness, disgust, and insanity like no other. That he also convinces you that he's two separate people is a mark of class.Rather than in-your-face gore and stark terror (of which you might have come to expect from Cronenberg's earlier '80s offerings), there is an unsettling and disturbing story built up here of the two twins, and Jeremy Irons is simply magnificent in his role. Why he didn't win any awards for it I will never know. The viewer really feels for the two doomed brothers and there are lots and lots of disturbing, mind-rending scenes included in the film, most of them involving the perversely shaped instruments that Irons has constructed in a fit of madness - yet another mark of Cronenberg's twisted "body horror".It's a difficult for me to review because in order to understand it, you have to see it. I can't really describe the impact it has because of the psychological nature of the thing; it's all very well reviewing cheap made-for-video trash but actual classics like this are a much harder nut to crack. All I can say is that it's an excellent film and provokes many disturbing images in your mind. It's not an easy film to watch either, there were moments where I felt like turning the video off due to the horror on show and the fact that the bastard Cronenberg makes us CARE for the people as he tortures them inside and out. There is little more that I can say, apart from if you want real, numbing horror then seek out this film as opposed to the latest Freddy or Jason offering which were doing the rounds at the time this was made. You'll never forget DEAD RINGERS, and in spite of sounding melodramatic, it may will haunt you and give you sleepless nights (it disturbed me, that's for sure)!

Uriah43 This movie is about two identical twins named "Elliott Mantle" and his brother "Beverly Mantle" (both played by Jeremy Irons) who have shared an interest in medicine all of their lives. But that's not all they share as the slightly older twin, Elliott, is less shy and typically initiates a sexual relationship with a woman and then when he gets tired of her passes her off to Beverly who takes it from there. Although this has worked like a charm for years, one day Elliott just so happens to hand a woman named "Claire Niveau" (Genevieve Bujold) to Beverly who then falls deeply in love with her. To make matters worse, when Claire finds out what has happened she gets angry with both brothers which throws Beverly into an emotional tailspin that results in dramatic consequences for everyone involved. Now from what I understand this movie has apparently garnered both critical and popular approval. That's fine. However, rather than following the proverbial crowd I happen to demur from the overall consensus as I found this movie to be a bit too dark and dreary for my tastes. Admittedly, Jeremy Irons performed in an excellent manner and he deserves whatever praise is offered. But even so I still thought the movie was too slow and boring and as a result I have rated it accordingly. Slightly below average.