With the number of thrillers debuting at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, it’s not a surprise if some fail to create buzz. While the poster child of the horror/thrillers after the festival will surely be Fresh, the latest film from director Riley Stearns, Dual, should certainly not fall by the wayside. A mix of comedy and thriller, Dual captures an audacious tale that would only come from the unique mind of Riley Stearns.
Dual tells the story of Sarah, a woman living with a terminal diagnosis during a dystopian future where you can be cloned if given a terminal illness. What are Sarah’s chances of dying? 98%, and despite the 2% outside shot of surviving, her doctor is less optimistic about that 2%. Because of Sarah’s predicament, she has a Sarah clone created to replace her once she passes on. However, what do you know but that 2% happens to come to fruition, and Sarah finds out that she is now healed. She now wants to get rid of her clone.
If the premise sounds bat-shit crazy, it’s because it is. Last year, Swan Song had a cloning element to its narrative. Still, the difference between the two films is that Stearns is unafraid to lean into the craziness of its premise and direct a film that will keep cinephiles guessing, provide laughter and creating questions amongst those who see it regarding the film’s conclusion.
While Aaron Paul does a fine job in his supporting role, including his chemistry with Karen Gillian, there’s no denying it’s Karen Gillian’s film. Gillian is the film’s driving force, giving her character a committed, unique, and impressive performance. Gillian breathes life into both versions of Sarah throughout the film. Both distinct Sarahs, Gillian shines bright in her duality adding to her resume of great performances.
If Dual loses steam, it is in its finale. I can’t help but be incredibly underwhelmed with the final moments as the film breezes through its runtime with expert precision only to conclude in a fashion where cinephiles are left thinking, “what could have been?”
Despite its uneventful finale, Dual is a film that, once discovered, will undoubtedly create a discourse for fan theories and conversations about the true meaning of Stearns’ film. Whether or not the film looks at bureaucracy, survivor’s guilt, or even the dangers of technology, that’s a discourse that should be credited to Riley Stearns and Dual.
