Faux-semblants

SYNOPSIS

This finely wrought urban horror tale from director David Cronenberg was inspired by the true story of identical twin gynaecologists who were found dead on New York's Upper East Side in 1975. Here, with the setting transposed to Toronto, Jeremy Irons expertly plays both Beverly and Elliot Mantle, with Geneviève Bujold as the internationally famous but infertile actress who, quite literally, can't choose between them. At the time, Cronenberg was better known for more gory offerings like Videodrome and the 1986 remake of The Fly, but here he demonstrates a uniquely distressing and subtle talent, and the result is enough to put you off visiting fertility clinics for ever.