Dual

Watched Dual last night/this morning. Bloody fantastic film. I thought it was just going to be yet another low-brow SFX laden action thing with loads of fight scenes, not really my thing, but Karen Gillan was in it, so I thought I'd give it a go before crashing out. Not at all what I expected. It's actually a really clever dystopian black comedy with fantastic performances from everybody involved. It's getting a lot of hate, seemingly because many others thought it was going to be the same film I thought it was, but unlike me, they were disappointed it wasn't actually that. The interesting thing about it is, it seems designed to have two seemingly open possibilities of how it ended, but in reality depending on which people choose to accept, you can see how closely they paid attention and thought deeply (or not) about the film. If you want an action movie, give it a miss, but if you like cerebral black comedies, watch it ASAP!

With Dual, the story beats are a bit predictable but Karen Gillan’s purposely flat yet absorbing performance and the sheer thought of having to face yourself in a duel to the death while some clone imposter takes over your life make the film worthwhile. It’s definitely a different kind of film outside of the mainstream, but it also falls slightly short of expectations. Riley Stearns is capable of being funny and has proven that before in the past, but Dual fails to really capitalize on being laugh out loud funny. It’s an unorthodox twist on a familiar concept that attempts to dive into unexplored territory. However, Dual isn't able to fully immerse itself in the offbeat absurdities that tend to make Riley Stearns films so enjoyable. Full review: https://hubpages.com/entertainment/Dual-2022-Review-The-Imitation-of-an-Eccentric-Film

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/dual-spoiler-free-review-sundance-2022 "Dual boasts an intriguing, high-concept premise that entirely commits to Riley Stearns' deadpan satire. But despite being full of purpose and intent, the latter component is taken to such an extreme that it negatively impacts everything which surrounds it. Every filmmaking and storytelling element feels incredibly underwhelming and ultimately hollow. Audiences will struggle to find enjoyment in a world full of interesting ideas; infused with divisive execution." Rating: C-