Watch The Double

The Double is a 2013 film that stars Jesse Eisenberg as the main protagonist, Simon James. He is a timid, introverted man who lives alone in a cramped apartment in a bleak, dystopian city. Simon is a hardworking employee at a government agency, but his meek demeanor makes him invisible to his coworkers and superiors. Despite his unremarkable nature, Simon finds himself drawn to a coworker named Hannah, played by Mia Wasikowska. However, he’s too shy to act on his feelings, and instead watches her from afar, unable to connect with her on a deeper level.

One day, Simon’s world is turned upside down when a new coworker named James arrives at the agency. To Simon’s shock and confusion, James looks exactly like him, but is his polar opposite in almost every other way. James is charming, confident, and charismatic – everything that Simon is not.

As James gradually infiltrates Simon’s life, Simon’s existence is thrown into chaos. James is more successful at work, more beloved by their colleagues, and better with women than Simon ever could be. He even begins to seduce Hannah, further exacerbating Simon’s feelings of inadequacy and loneliness.

Simon tries to rationalize James’ existence, but begins to question his own sanity as the situation becomes more and more surreal. Throughout the film, Simon’s life spirals out of control as James becomes increasingly dominant and threatening, leading to an explosive finale.

The Double is a dark and unsettling film that explores themes of identity, individuality, and societal oppression. It’s an adaptation of a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, and director Richard Ayoade draws heavily from the book’s surrealism and psychological intensity.

Jesse Eisenberg delivers a masterful performance as both Simon and James, effortlessly switching between the two characters and giving each their own distinct personality. Mia Wasikowska is also excellent as Hannah, imbuing her with a quiet strength and depth of character that makes her much more than a love interest.

The film’s art direction and cinematography are also top-notch, creating a gritty and claustrophobic environment that perfectly mirrors Simon’s feelings of entrapment and despair. The use of color, light, and shadow is particularly notable, with the film’s palette shifting from muted grays to stark, vivid colors as Simon’s mental state deteriorates.

One of the film’s strengths is its refusal to provide easy answers or tidy resolutions. Throughout the movie, Simon is constantly searching for meaning in the chaos of his life, and the audience is never quite sure what’s real and what’s imagined. The ambiguity and layered storytelling make The Double a rich and rewarding film for those who enjoy complex psychological thrillers.

Overall, The Double is a thought-provoking and unsettling film that stays with you long after the credits have rolled. With its outstanding performances, stunning visuals, and surreal storyline, it’s a must-watch for fans of psychological dramas and literary adaptations.

The Double is a 2013 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 68.