#FIRSTLOOK: “DEAD RINGERS”

By Mr. Will Wong

DEAD RINGERS pushes boundaries daringly in the same spirit that David Cronenberg would approve. This new six-episode Prime Video Limited Series, based on the great Canadian’s groundbreaking 1986 feature, stars Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz in dual roles as New York City’s well-known twins Elliot and Beverly Mantle. Together, the twins break the rules, but it isn’t without reason. When it comes to women’s health, their care and rights pre and post-natally, they are here to challenge antiquated practices and standards. They aren’t entirely heroes though in the classic sense. They use each other’s identities to deceive and they literally share everything – no secrets. So what happens when one finds love and the other no longer is everything to the other?

Canada’s Sean Durkin (Martha Marcy May Marlene, The Nest) has a knack for exploring stories from the eyes of complex female characters, and is tasked with directing three of the six episodes here. Others behind the lens include a directing team packed with talent: Karyn Kusama (Girlfight, Destroyer), Lauren Wolkstein (The Strange Ones) and also Toronto’s own Karena Evans (Firecrackers).

Make no mistake, the Series is not for the light-hearted. True to Cronenberg form, this is very much a Psychological Thriller with Body Horror elements. It looks and feels like the 1988 original as well, cold, dark and gray. It’s graphic, bold and the Mantle Sisters are unflinching and can take it as well as they can dish it. That being said, so much of the Series weighs on the strength of Weisz’s superb work, effectively characterizing each sister so convincingly that we forget they’re played by the same Actor.

DEAD RINGERS arrives April 21, 2023 on Prime Video.

#SUNDANCE: “THE NEST”

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

After status-obsessed Rory (Jude Law) forces his wife, Allison (Carrie Coon), and their children to move from New York to 1980s Surrey, England, the family begins to fall apart.

Writer-Director Sean Durkin has finally followed-up on his Feature debut Martha Marcy May Marlene with this stunning study of the lengths one may go to get and/or appear wealthy in a capitalist society. His steady pace, impeccable dialogue and setting create an eerie atmosphere that easily unsettles and hovers over each scene. His entire cast is outstanding. Law ferociously throws himself into Rory’s incredible need to be in the upper-class and his slow descent into turmoil. Then there’s Coon’s controlled and subtle Allison that quickly turns into a ticking time-bomb. The Nest is a study on how some are willing to risk everything and anything to get what they want, even after they forget why they want it. And although this takes place in the 1980s, it’s a film is relevant to our society today.

The Nest screens at Sundance on Sun, Jan. 26th at 6:30 PM at Eccles, Mon, Jan. 27th at 8 AM at The MARC, Thus, Jan. 30th at 9 AM at Eccles, Fri, Jan. 31st at 9:30 PM at The Ray, and Sun, Feb. 2nd at 3 PM at Tower Theatre