--- product_id: 172912175 title: "Dead Ringers (The Criterion Collection)" price: "HK$1021" currency: HKD in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.hk/products/172912175-dead-ringers-the-criterion-collection store_origin: HK region: Hong Kong --- # Dead Ringers (The Criterion Collection) **Price:** HK$1021 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Dead Ringers (The Criterion Collection) - **How much does it cost?** HK$1021 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.hk](https://www.desertcart.hk/products/172912175-dead-ringers-the-criterion-collection) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Product Description In Dead Ringers, David Cronenberg tells the chilling story of identical twin gynecologists-suave Elliot and sensitive Beverly, bipolar sides of one personality-who share the same practice, the same apartment, the same women. When a new patient, glamorous actress Claire Niveau, challenges their eerie bond, they descend into a whirlpool of sexual confusion, drugs, and madness. Jeremy Irons' tour-de-force performance-as both twins-raises disturbing questions about the nature of personal identity. desertcart.com Like many other films by Canadian director David Cronenberg (especially Crash), Dead Ringers presents the cinematic and psychological equivalent of an automobile accident--you dare not look, but you can't turn away. The film marked a directorial breakthrough for Cronenberg, who was able to continue some of the themes explored in his earlier horror films while graduating to a higher, more critically "respectable" level of artistic sophistication. The film is loosely based, amazingly enough, on a true story about twin gynecologists who routinely traded each others' identities, lives and even lovers. Utilizing innovative split-screen technology (years before computer manipulation made such trickery much easier), the film stars Jeremy Irons in flawless dual roles as the identical brothers Beverly and Elliot Mantle. Their ability to instantly switch identities leads them to a shared relationship with a well-known actress (Genevieve Bujold) and, ultimately, a physical and psychological tailspin that sends them both to the brink of madness and death. The scenario suggests that both men are halves of a whole, and that one cannot exist without the other. But when Beverly pursues a kinky, drug-addicted affair with the actress, his more self-controlled brother is helpless to prevent their mutual decline. In this way Dead Ringers becomes a fascinating and stylistically clinical study of duality, and Cronenberg doesn't shy away from the dark and unpleasant aspects of the story. (One look at the movie's display of bizarre gynecological instruments and you'll know why women find this film particularly--and unforgettably--disturbing.) --Jeff Shannon Review: Dead Ringers. “Two Bodies. Two Minds. One Soul.” - The original 1988 theatrical poster is spot on with its eerie description of this highly underrated psychological drama. Director David Cronenberg co-wrote the screenplay, which was based on the novel "Twins" by Bari Wood and Jack Geasland. The film is also loosely based on real-life events. Not having read the book makes no difference to the impact of this astonishing movie. Set in Toronto, Canada, the story follows a pair of gynaecologists who also happen to be identical twin brothers: Beverly and Elliot Mantle (Jeremy Irons, in a dual role). In life; Beverly is introverted and reserved, while Elliot is extroverted and confident. A pair of highly intelligent doctors; their work (specializing in treating female fertility problems) is cutting-edge, their home world private and secluded, their lives intertwined in every aspect. They live together, eat together, breathe together. If one goes out, upon return the other is regaled with every little detail of the events. They share each others’ lives: education, work, women, thoughts and dreams. Their equilibrium is thrown into disarray, when a women with an unusual medical condition enters their world. Claire Niveau (Geneviève Bujold), a troubled actress, becomes a wedge that slowly pry’s the brothers apart. She is the catalyst of their separation. What follows is a mesmerizing study of the lives of these troubled souls. Geneviève Bujold plays her part wonderfully, and is a deft counter-balance to the atmospheric sombreness and dread of the Mise-en-scène Cronenberg creates, with sharp lines, clinical tone and colour palette. She indeed brings a perfect element of both delicateness and power to Claire. She is a much needed contrast to the stoic yet profound performances of Jeremy Irons. Irons’ portrayal of the unsettlingly close identical brothers, is nothing short of a tour de force performance. One that should go down as one of the greatest ever. His subtle delivery and nuanced differentiation of Beverly and Elliot is a revelation to witness. He conveys the brothers’ inner torment with nothing but a look or a gesture. He utterly dissolves into the characters, allowing us to concentrate on the harrowing, disturbing downfall that unfolds before us. The soundtrack is also worthy of mention. The great Howard Shore, delivering again (much like his “Silence of the Lambs” effort) a unique, creepy, neutral, and subtle accompaniment. Sad and horrific, this tale is indeed hard to watch. It is a slow character study. It gets under your skin. Burning progressively to a logical, yet no-less powerful ending. Many people seem to rate this movie as boring, confusing, and tedious. Perhaps it went over their heads or there wasn’t enough explosions or guns or they are just too conservative. Indeed, much like other Cronenbergian pictures, it is not for the squeamish. Cronenberg fans have even criticized it and rated it low in this body of work. Why? I don’t know. It certainly would help your enjoyment if you are already a fan of his, but if this your first Cronenberg, it absolutely won’t be your last. Other fans, like myself, consider this to be one of his true masterpieces, alongside “Videodrome” and “Crash”. So if you’re up for a journey of “interesting” emotions and unsettling feelings, one filled with meaning and metaphors, and one of thrilling, masterful storytelling; switch the lights off, turn the sound up, and open your mind. 10 out of 10. Review: A+ Blu-Ray - The original film that spawned the series. Top 5 Cronenberg ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | 1559408871 | | Actors | Barbara Gordon, Geneviève Bujold, Heidi Von Palleske, Jeremy Irons, Shirley Douglas | | Aspect Ratio | 1.66:1 | | Best Sellers Rank | #72,446 in Movies & TV ( See Top 100 in Movies & TV ) #698 in Performing Arts (Movies & TV) #2,658 in Horror (Movies & TV) #3,596 in Mystery & Thrillers (Movies & TV) | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (518) | | Director | David Cronenberg | | Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No | | Language | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround) | | MPAA rating | R (Restricted) | | Media Format | Color, DVD, Letterboxed, NTSC | | Number of discs | 1 | | Product Dimensions | 7.5 x 5.38 x 0.6 inches; 4 ounces | | Release date | January 1, 1988 | | Run time | 1 hour and 56 minutes | | Studio | Criterion | ## Product Details - **Format:** Color, DVD, Letterboxed, NTSC - **Genre:** Performing Arts - **Language:** English - **Runtime:** 1 hour and 56 minutes ## Images ![Dead Ringers (The Criterion Collection) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/4178D115ZEL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Dead Ringers. “Two Bodies. Two Minds. One Soul.” *by Z***Y on May 23, 2014* The original 1988 theatrical poster is spot on with its eerie description of this highly underrated psychological drama. Director David Cronenberg co-wrote the screenplay, which was based on the novel "Twins" by Bari Wood and Jack Geasland. The film is also loosely based on real-life events. Not having read the book makes no difference to the impact of this astonishing movie. Set in Toronto, Canada, the story follows a pair of gynaecologists who also happen to be identical twin brothers: Beverly and Elliot Mantle (Jeremy Irons, in a dual role). In life; Beverly is introverted and reserved, while Elliot is extroverted and confident. A pair of highly intelligent doctors; their work (specializing in treating female fertility problems) is cutting-edge, their home world private and secluded, their lives intertwined in every aspect. They live together, eat together, breathe together. If one goes out, upon return the other is regaled with every little detail of the events. They share each others’ lives: education, work, women, thoughts and dreams. Their equilibrium is thrown into disarray, when a women with an unusual medical condition enters their world. Claire Niveau (Geneviève Bujold), a troubled actress, becomes a wedge that slowly pry’s the brothers apart. She is the catalyst of their separation. What follows is a mesmerizing study of the lives of these troubled souls. Geneviève Bujold plays her part wonderfully, and is a deft counter-balance to the atmospheric sombreness and dread of the Mise-en-scène Cronenberg creates, with sharp lines, clinical tone and colour palette. She indeed brings a perfect element of both delicateness and power to Claire. She is a much needed contrast to the stoic yet profound performances of Jeremy Irons. Irons’ portrayal of the unsettlingly close identical brothers, is nothing short of a tour de force performance. One that should go down as one of the greatest ever. His subtle delivery and nuanced differentiation of Beverly and Elliot is a revelation to witness. He conveys the brothers’ inner torment with nothing but a look or a gesture. He utterly dissolves into the characters, allowing us to concentrate on the harrowing, disturbing downfall that unfolds before us. The soundtrack is also worthy of mention. The great Howard Shore, delivering again (much like his “Silence of the Lambs” effort) a unique, creepy, neutral, and subtle accompaniment. Sad and horrific, this tale is indeed hard to watch. It is a slow character study. It gets under your skin. Burning progressively to a logical, yet no-less powerful ending. Many people seem to rate this movie as boring, confusing, and tedious. Perhaps it went over their heads or there wasn’t enough explosions or guns or they are just too conservative. Indeed, much like other Cronenbergian pictures, it is not for the squeamish. Cronenberg fans have even criticized it and rated it low in this body of work. Why? I don’t know. It certainly would help your enjoyment if you are already a fan of his, but if this your first Cronenberg, it absolutely won’t be your last. Other fans, like myself, consider this to be one of his true masterpieces, alongside “Videodrome” and “Crash”. So if you’re up for a journey of “interesting” emotions and unsettling feelings, one filled with meaning and metaphors, and one of thrilling, masterful storytelling; switch the lights off, turn the sound up, and open your mind. 10 out of 10. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A+ Blu-Ray *by C***Z on May 1, 2025* The original film that spawned the series. Top 5 Cronenberg ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cronenberg's and Irons' Masterpiece *by R***R on December 22, 2015* This is one of the strangest movies you'll ever see, but one of the best because it actually has a plot. It's totally brilliant and enjoyable, unlike Eraserhead, for instance, which seems weird for it's own sake. Jeremy Irons gives his best performance IMO. Follows the life of two impossible to tell apart identical twins from childhood to med school to private practice to an epic and tragic psychological breakdown. Not the most uplifting film, but can't miss for Cronenberg fans. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.hk/products/172912175-dead-ringers-the-criterion-collection](https://www.desertcart.hk/products/172912175-dead-ringers-the-criterion-collection) --- *Product available on Desertcart Hong Kong* *Store origin: HK* *Last updated: 2026-05-30*