Opening this weekend, Denis Villeneuve‘s “Enemy” uses the conduit of the doppelganger (a popular cinematic theme, check out our recent feature) to explore themes of identity and sexuality in a brilliant and surreal headfuck of a movie. Richard Ayoade‘s “The Double” also plays with two men as duplicates, though Ayoade’s aims are much more whimsical, but no less satisfying.
The first clip from the film, starring Jesse Eisenberg, has arrived, and it gives a pretty good sense of the tone and pitch of “The Double.” The scene finds the meek Simon James eating out with his much more assertive opposite James Simon, where the order at a diner becomes a battle of wills. It’s a pretty terrific example of the two different performances Eisenberg brings to the movie, the sharp dialogue and the carefully constructed sets.
“The Double” opens in theaters and VOD on May 9th. Watch below and check out a pretty great new poster too.
