Quick Info
This 2013 thriller, directed by Richard Ayoade, is a strange and stylish adaptation of Dostoevsky's novella, but with a surreal modern twist. It stars Jesse Eisenberg in a dual role — he plays Simon, a meek office drone overlooked by just about everyone, and also his doppelgänger James, who is charming, confident, and slowly takes over Simon's life. The movie is set in a bizarre, retro-futuristic world that almost feels like a Kafka story filmed through a Terry Gilliam lens.
The atmosphere is hands down the best part of The Double. The cinematography is deliciously gloomy — think washed-out colors, ugly fluorescent office lighting, and an ever-present sense of claustrophobia. I was pretty floored by how much visual storytelling there is; nearly every frame feels meticulously designed to make you squirm just a little. There's a droning, offbeat score, too, which adds to that feeling of creeping unreality.
Eisenberg honestly nails both roles so well that I kept forgetting they were the same actor. Mia Wasikowska is quietly great as the love interest, making her character more than just an object of Simon's affection. The supporting cast is full of those "Oh, I know that face!" British actors, and they all lean into the deadpan, almost cartoonish horror of Simon's world. The dialogue, while sometimes intentionally stilted, manages to do a lot with a little.
My only complaint is that the movie's chilly style sometimes makes it hard to connect emotionally. It's such a specific, oddball world that you have to be in the right mood to let it wash over you. The story gets a bit muddled in the final stretch, too — if you want clear answers and neat resolutions, this won't be your cup of tea.
You would enjoy this if you like dark, cerebral thrillers with a lot of visual flair, or if you dug movies like Brazil, Enemy, or Synecdoche, New York. It’s perfect for anyone who likes their thrillers less about chases or fights and more about anxious, weird atmosphere and identity crises. Definitely watch it if you want something off the beaten path that’ll stick with you.
