Stars: Karen Gillan, Beulah Koale, Aaron Paul, Theo James, Maija Paunio, June Hyde | Written and Directed by Riley Stearns
Karen Gillan plays dual roles in this sci-fi black comedy about a terminally ill woman who clashes with the clone she orders to replace her after she’s gone. The third feature from writer-director Riley Stearns, it’s a decidedly offbeat, darkly funny satire that grapples with some big questions.
Dual is set in a world where the terminally ill are permitted to clone themselves, with the replacement taking over their lives once the patient dies. However, there’s a catch – if, for some reason, the patient survives their illness, the clone and the original must duel to the death in front of a television audience, with the survivor earning the right to the identity in question. We see a taste of this in the prologue, with a young man (Theo...
Karen Gillan plays dual roles in this sci-fi black comedy about a terminally ill woman who clashes with the clone she orders to replace her after she’s gone. The third feature from writer-director Riley Stearns, it’s a decidedly offbeat, darkly funny satire that grapples with some big questions.
Dual is set in a world where the terminally ill are permitted to clone themselves, with the replacement taking over their lives once the patient dies. However, there’s a catch – if, for some reason, the patient survives their illness, the clone and the original must duel to the death in front of a television audience, with the survivor earning the right to the identity in question. We see a taste of this in the prologue, with a young man (Theo...
- 5/30/2022
- by Matthew Turner
- Nerdly
It’s no coincidence that writer-director Riley Stearns’ anti-fantasy “Dual” feels like it belongs in the midnight movie section of a prestigious film festival. Stearns’ first two projects, “Faults” and “The Art of Self-Defense,” were embraced by SXSW audiences, and this one premiered at Sundance a few months ago.
But as is so often the case with edgier festival fare, what feels thrilling among like-minded fans winds up deflating upon arrival.
Stearns’ first two movies earned their adoration the hard way, challenging audiences with pitch-black humor and an off-kilter tone. While “Dual” goes for the jugular as well, it doesn’t cut nearly as deep.
Karen Gillan fans may be delighted to find her in the titular role, as both Sarah and Sarah’s Double. The former is a sad-sack human who learns that she has a rare disease, leaving her only a year to live. Out of curiosity, she...
But as is so often the case with edgier festival fare, what feels thrilling among like-minded fans winds up deflating upon arrival.
Stearns’ first two movies earned their adoration the hard way, challenging audiences with pitch-black humor and an off-kilter tone. While “Dual” goes for the jugular as well, it doesn’t cut nearly as deep.
Karen Gillan fans may be delighted to find her in the titular role, as both Sarah and Sarah’s Double. The former is a sad-sack human who learns that she has a rare disease, leaving her only a year to live. Out of curiosity, she...
- 4/14/2022
- by Elizabeth Weitzman
- The Wrap
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.