← Back to results
The Double
2014 93 min United Kingdom R 12+
★6.8
Thriller, Drama
Director: Richard Ayoade
🎭 Based on
«The Double»
byFyodor Dostoyevsky
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
Teaser
Teaser
Teaser
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
Description
An awkward office drone becomes increasingly unhinged after a charismatic and confident look-alike takes a job at his workplace and seduces the woman he desires.
US Gross:
$200,406
Worldwide:
$200,000
Starring
Jesse Eisenberg
Actor
Mia Wasikowska
Actor
Wallace Shawn
Actor
Awards
1 win & 11 nominations total
Key opinion
Richard Ayoade’s adaptation of Dostoevsky’s 'The Double' is a highly stylized, atmospheric descent into a bureaucratic, Kafkaesque nightmare. While Jesse Eisenberg’s dual performance is widely praised for its technical execution, critics remain deeply divided over whether the film offers profound philosophical insight or merely hides a superficial narrative behind derivative aesthetic homages.
| Acting | Jesse Eisenberg's dual performance effectively distinguishes the timid Simon from his charismatic, predatory alter-ego James. | |
| Production | The production design successfully constructs a surreal, timeless, and oppressive world that mirrors the protagonist's feelings of invisibility. | |
| Originality | The film’s visual language is heavily indebted to filmmakers like Terry Gilliam, David Lynch, and Wes Anderson, leading to debate over whether the style is original or merely derivative. | |
| Pacing | The film’s bleak, contemplative tempo and heavy atmosphere engage viewers seeking psychological depth, while others find it emotionally hollow or tedious. | |
| Adaptation | The adaptation is criticized for prioritizing a polished, hipster aesthetic over the spiritual and emotional core of Dostoevsky's original text. |