Horror films and psychologicalthrillers are often at their scariestwhen they focus on secret desires or anxieties that anyone can relate to, even if they are depicted in a high-concept way. Often, even those who have tremendous success compare their achievements to what a theoretical version of themselves would be capable of; self-criticism can lead to dangerous thoughts about missed opportunities and unrealized potential.Richard Ayoade’s 2014 thriller,The Double,is a brilliant dark comedy about competition and frustration, featuringJesse Eisenbergin one of the best performances of his career. The notion of one actor playing two roles may feel like a gimmick, but Eisenberg does an excellent job of playing two disparate parts of the same character.
The Doublewas inspired by the novel of the same name byDostoevskyand directed by British actor and comedian Richard Ayoade (The It Crowd), whom Eisenberg admitted to being a huge fan ofafter watching his directorial debut,Submarine, countless times. IfSubmarineexplored the fears that young people face when they are about to be adults, thenThe Doubleis a study of how adults continue to carry those anxieties well past their teenage years.The Doublepulls off an impressive trick when it comes to its tone,as the inherent silliness of the premise transforms into claustrophobic suspense by the time that the film reaches its disturbing conclusion.
‘The Double' Has Hints of the Coen Brothers, Charlie Kaufman, and ‘Severance’
Eisenberg stars inThe Doubleas the lonely office worker Simon James, who feels ignored by everyone he works with, including his crush, Hannah (Mia Wasikowska). Although Simon ends up saving Hannah from a potential accident, he finds that she disappears after he takes her for dinner. However,Simon’s life takes a bizarre turn upon the arrival of his new co-worker, James Simon, who is his exact doppelgänger. Although James tries to offer Simon advice that would seemingly make his life better, he begins to take over, blurring the lines between the characters. Even though the audience is able to track the difference between Simon and Jamesbased on the subtle physical alterationswithin Eisenberg’s performance, the other characters are unable to spot the difference. WhileSubmarinewas quite relatable because of its focus on the natural challenges that most people face growing up,The Doubleshowcased Ayoade’s strength as a visual storyteller, as the vague nature of Ayoade’s world-building makes the film more alluring.
There are few details given about the type of work that Simon does, and it’s never stated where or what year the story takes place, as if it could exist at any point in history. This reflects an aspect of Simon’s personality, ashe is a character who is so consumed with anxiety that he is unable to focus on the world that is changing around him. It makes sense why his fellow office workers would not recognize James, as his double’s behavior is so wholly unique that they feel like completely different people. It’s suggested, if not outright implied, that the film takes place in Simon’s head, and thus the audience gets to perceive the world in the same way that he does.As is the case in a nightmare,things don’t necessarily have to make sense to be upsetting or scary.
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The Doubleis a remarkably original film, but it does have some similarities to other great filmmakers. Although the bizarre dialogue and repetitive visualsare reminiscent ofthe Coen brothers' distinct style, there is also a streak of existentialism that is similar to the work ofCharlie Kaufman, who told a similar story when he castNicolas Cageas twin brothers inAdaptation. Those who loved the hit Apple TV+ seriesSeverancemay enjoyThe Double, as both focus on how people change their personalities in order to differentiate their “work life” from their social circle. This is a harmful thing for Simon to deal with in the film, as he finds it challenging to develop meaningful relationships with people outside of his workplace.
‘The Double’ Shows the Versatility and Skill of Jesse Eisenberg
The Doubleoffered Eisenberg an opportunity to be vulnerable, as he had attained more mainstream fame in the aftermath of his Academy Award-nominated performance inThe Social Networkand the other roles that followed. Eisenberggot his start in independent arthouse filmslikeThe Squid and the Whale, andThe Doublefeels like a return to the character-based projects that he built his career off of. Given how dominant he is onscreen, there is little room for Eisenberg to hide, as the detail-oriented nature of the production often feels like a play.The Doubleis also not a film that is interested in scaling down its weirdness to appease viewers looking for something more traditional; at only 93 minutes long, the film demands that viewers pay close attention from the moment that it begins.
The Doubleshowed that Ayoade could find a way for Eisenberg to work within a sci-fi film, which is a genre that he struggled with otherwise. A film likeAmerican Ultrasimply typecast Eisenberg as a generic stoner, which almost felt like a parody of his own work; on the other hand, Eisenberg’s commitment to playingLex Luthor inBatman v. Superman: Dawn of Justicewas not enough to make up for the shallow nature ofZack Snyder’s screenplay.The Doublepushed him outside his comfort zone, but also showcased the merits of letting a stylized filmmaker wrestle with interesting ideas about what experiences define someone’s identity. Even if they were completely different in terms of tone and style, Eisenberg’s directorial efforts,When You Finish Saving The WorldandA Real Pain,touched on similar topics aboutmental health and impostor syndrome.
The Double,unfortunately, never received the attention it deserved, asthe consequence of independent films remaining in limited releaseis that they often don’t get a sizable audience outside of the privileged pundits and critics who live in New York, Los Angeles or Ayoade’s native UK. It also came at a time in Eisenberg’s career when he was making smaller films likeNight Moves,The End of the Tour,Louder than Bombs,andCafe Society, which struggled to connect with mainstream viewers. The fact that it opened at the same time asEnemy,a far more acclaimed film about doubles that featured a great performance byJake Gyllenhaal, also may have led to unfair comparisons. However,The Doubleis a rewarding film that is both scary and funny at the same time. Even if audiences are left baffled by the end,The Doubleis the type of thoughtful, creative project that is bound to start interesting conversations.
The Double
