Twins in films have always been a staple; here are ten essential movies about twins…
Twins in the movies. It’s a well that’s been drawn upon innumerable times, and that’s just on sites with Hub in the address bar. As far as proper cinema, twins as central characters, whether identical or not, have seen an array of stories based around the idea. Separated at birth? Sure. An evil twin and a good twin? Done (to death). Former conjoined twins? Yep. Done. There have been many comical scenarios of twins swapping places to fool people or simply being mistaken for each other. This sub-genre has been so well covered even I’ve even written an upcoming twin-centric movie, Holiday With the Twins.
Now, given that there has been a general dearth of actual twin actors (aside from some notables like the Sprouse twins and the Olsen’s of course), what tends to happen is that an actor will take on dual roles. There’s an inherent comedy, too, in seeing some of the ropey special effects in portraying twins in the movies. From shaky split screens to Jean-Claude Van Damme (to name one) awkwardly peering off into a direction not remotely close to the twin brother he’s supposed to be talking to. All told, though, the cinema of twins and their shenanigans has covered pretty much every genre and so here are ten essential movies…
Sinners
One film that actually pulled off the twin two-shot with consummate ease was Ryan Coogler’s, Sinners. The big screen hit was a rare auteur vision in genre cinema, which felt like a proper big screen event. Central to it is Michael B. Jordan being able to convince us he’s playing twins. That requires him to act with himself, and thanks to top-of-the-tier technology and Coogler’s care and attention, it very quickly becomes seamless. Never once do you find yourself wondering why Jordan is peering off at entirely the wrong angle and probably eying up the Best Boy rather than his invisible twin brother. They nailed it.
Sinners begins as an incredible deep south drama with a killer soundtrack, that takes an about turn at the end of the second act into From Dusk Til Dawn territory. It doesn’t do that part as well as Robert Rodriguez, but we’re already hooked in and we care what happens. Delroy Lindo also swoops in, dunks on everyone to take the MVP trophy. Did I mention the killer soundtrack?
Twins
No such worries over twin VFX here. The entire concept of Ivan Reitman’s Twins is the farcical idea that the birth of a genetically engineered super baby resulted in a less-than-super cast off. That gives us the comical visual of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito as twins, with DeVito presumably the genetically superior twin?
Twins became the film that convinced studios that Arnold Schwarzenegger was more than an R-rated action hero, and could translate his inimitable stature and persona into comedy. It also remains probably his most effective foray into the genre. For DeVito, it was a cake walk, of course, but the film really does benefit from the pair’s effective chemistry. Twins isn’t the greatest film either have done, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun.
Gemini
From visionary cult filmmaker Shinya Tsukamoto comes 1999’s Gemini, where a man is terrorised by an evil twin he never knew existed. Anyone familiar with the kinetic and wild lunacy of Tsukamoto at his best will know what to expect. Having made films like Tetsuo and A Snake of June, and Hiroku the Goblin, Gemini delivers the same dynamic visuals that will make you marvel, even when the plot threatens to run away from him.
In some ways, it harks back to some of the great experimental horrors of the ’60s and ’70s coming out of Japan, with House being one of the most notable. Tsukamoto’s visual whimsy and creativity are to be marvelled and, yet this film doesn’t have quite the same cult following as some of his others. Perhaps unfairly.
Twin Dragons
Twins get separated at birth, with one growing up as a criminal wastral on the mean streets of Hong Kong and the other becoming a civilised gentleman, raised in the West. No, this isn’t Double Impact, it’s Twin Dragons. Jackie Chan was at his dynamic, creative peak in the early 90s, just short of his Hollywood breakthrough. His incredible blend of physical comedy and frenetic action was pretty much unmatched. Some could fight just as effectively as him, but few could also pull off the comedy as effectively (bar his two buddies, Sammo Hung and Yeun Biao).
Twin Dragons is actually pretty underrated as far as Chan’s career goes. It’s never been as iconic as other Hong Kong films he made, but this one has some of his most inspired physical skits. It also has the benefit of being directed by not one, but two Hong Kong legends in Ringo Lam and Tsui Hark. This one absolutely rockets by, and though the moments with dual Chans sharing a frame look shoddy, that only adds to the cheesy charm. The continual overuse of the ‘twin connection’ thing is ridiculous. One Chan sneezes, and the other matches it. They milk this idea for all its worth, but it’s ridiculously good fun. This film will leave you in awe at Chan’s peak era genius. Like absolute, genius.
Double Impact
Twins are separated at birth and end up falling on both sides of the law, until they find themselves reconnected to take down a criminal gang. No, it’s not Double Trouble starring the Barbarian brothers (which sadly, spoiler alert, narrowly missed this list), it’s Double Impact. Not for the last time, Van Damme took on twin roles, but never has this been so prominent as in the first, Double Impact. Yes, they’re separated by continents at birth, but when Alex has to head to Hong Kong, he soon runs into his nefarious brother Chad, and the pair take on the gangsters Chad has been working for.
Director Sheldon Lettich was always one of the finest utilizers of Van Damme’s physical abilities, and it’s displayed well here. Every classic Van Damme manoeuvre is used in Double Impact, and short of John Woo, you’ll never see finer captures of the patented Van Damme jumping 360 kick. You’ve also got Bolo Yeung and Cory Everson making a formidable pair on the villain’s roster.
SEE ALSO: Three Films and Six Van Dammes: The JCVD Dual Role Routine
Legend
When it comes to portraying the infamous Kray twins on screen, the tendency has always leaned toward caricature. With Brian Helgeland’s 2015 film, that has never been truer. As Ronnie and Reggie, the ruthless and violent London gangsters, Tom Hardy doesn’t so much dial it up to eleven as he does break the knob off.
Sure, this Legend has the subtlety of a jackhammer in the wee hours of a Sunday morn, but that really is part of the fun. The film’s over-the-top style and Hardy’s dual performances have ensured this film has become a cult favourite and has been memed to within an inch of its life. With a beefy budget too, it’s probably the most lavish Krays movie, and it does look fantastic.
Adaptation
Adaptation is a sensational triumvirate of Spike Jonze (director), Charlie Kaufman (writer) and Nicolas Cage (star) on top of their respective games. Kaufman’s script carries much of his own persona within it, whilst adding a fictional twin brother whose behaviour tends to be the polar.
Visually engaging thanks to Jonze’s creativity and Cage’s magnetic (dual) presence, the film is also filled with quirky and eclectic characters wonderfully brought to life by an incredible cast. At the time, Cage had moved away from his auteur-driven quirky dramatic roles to become something of an action star (albeit under the distinctive direction of guys like John Woo and Michael Bay). Adaptation was seen as a triumphant return to the type of roles which made him so compelling on screen.
Blood Rage
This underrated horror gem is affably cheesy and proudly wears its B-movie heart on its sleeve. Twins are separated in childhood after a gruesome event sees one boy sent to a psychiatric facility. Some years later, on Thanksgiving, the incarcerated Todd escapes, looking to wreak revenge on his family and whoever gets in his way (armed with a machete).
It’s not played with deathly seriousness, but neither does it fully lean on comedy. Mark Soper isn’t the best actor by any means, but he has a certain compelling charm playing both twins, and although there’s a twist that’s even more visible from space than the Great Wall, this one is still a brilliant pizza and beer special. Slasher fans will find plenty to enjoy with this one.
Sisters
Brian De Palma’s early career was certainly interesting, filled with stylish genre films. His predilection for Hitchcockian thrills is evident with Sisters, a brilliant psycho-thriller featuring a great performance by Margot Kidder, a once Siamese twin (now a model) who was separated from her sister. Jennifer Salt is also superb as a reporter, believing she’s witnessed the twin commit a murder.
Pre-dating Carrie, this one still shows all the assured trademarks of De Palma’s most iconic works, not least that heavy mining of Hitchcock’s canon and the master’s approach to weaving a plot and its twists.
A Zed and Two Noughts
Peter Greenaway never towed the line of convention. His arthouse cinema courted cinephiles and art lovers, whilst generally keeping mainstream viewers at arm’s length. Most who have dived into his cinema have been dazzled by stunning visual compositions that allure even a normy watching, whilst inspiring repulsion from even the most ardent arthouse fan with some of the more unpalatable parts of his movies.
A Zed and Two Noughts is a film that nowadays wouldn’t feel out of place in the A24 stable with today’s Letterboxd generation being fairly open to the weird and wonderful (of which Greenaway always delivers). Twins Oliver and Oswald (played by Eric and Brian Deacon) become fascinated with decomposition and decay after their wives die in a car accident. They also grow fascinated with the woman (Andrea Ferreol) who caused the crash and is now an amputee. Every frame is a painting and the cast are brilliant, particularly the sultry Francis Barber.
Honourable Mentions:
Dead Ringers
Double Trouble (almost made it)
The Parent Trap
The Skeleton Twins
Twisted Pair (a sensational disaster class from Neil Breen)
It Takes Two (because we have to include an Olsen twins joint and this Parent Trap riff is actually quite fun).
What’s your favourite film(s) featuring about twins? Let us know on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Tom Jolliffe
