Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

Dual Blu-ray Movie Review

Clones (We're all)

Reviewed by Randy Miller III July 11, 2022

Writer/director Riley Stearns' Dual is a sci-fi black comedy that's both deeply thought-provoking and purposely obtuse, the kind of film you want to fully absorb while it keeps you at arm's length. It's not all that surprising given the ins and outs of his last effort, 2019's impressive The Art of Self-Defense, which starred potential living cyborg Jesse Eisenberg as a timid young man whose sudden self-confidence and physical toughness leads to disaster. Dual adds a headier twist to the proceedings: sad sack Sarah (Karen Gillan) decides to clone herself after a grim diagnosis points towards certain death in the coming weeks. Her double spends time learning all of Sarah's likes and dislikes while cozying up with her boyfriend Peter (Beulah Koale), ready to make the full transition once she finally succumbs to her illness.

Surprisingly -- and I say this at the risk of potential spoilers, which are unavoidable given the film's plot -- Sarah goes into complete remission, so now the world's stuck with two of her. Or at least it would be if Dual didn't carry with it a full set of rules regarding clones and their legal rights, which include a mandatory duel whose winner keeps the original identity. To increase her chances, Sarah enlists the help of Trent (Aaron Paul), a store-brand combat trainer who works with her to prepare for the big showdown almost a full year away. All the while, Sarah's double preps in her own way but now lives with Peter, who sees her as something of a "new and improved" version of his former girlfriend.

Like The Art of Self-Defense, Dual has a lot to say about the human condition and, to its credit, remains emotionally engaging during its entire first half as it raises interesting questions about mortality, personal identity, and of course self-improvement. It's ironic, then, that the film's least compelling narrative element by far is the duel itself, which threatens to turn this otherwise engaging drama into some sort of goofy Hunger Games variant. Luckily the film plays some cards better than expected, presenting us with a more character-driven climax instead of going into full visceral fight mode. Yet Dual still feels thin, like an air-tight short movie stretched to feature film length, and its reliance on quirky gags and robotic line delivery -- or as I call it, the Eisenberg principle -- ultimately work against it.

Other elements of this production also keep us guessing, for better or for worse. The events of Dual are not identified by a particular year but obviously feel either present day or slightly near-future, a notion confirmed by writer/director Riley Stearns himself (during an accompanying audio commentary) as an "alternate universe" of current times. While bigger films like Her are able to use decent-sized budgets to create a convincing sci-fi backdrop, the more modestly made Dual has no choice but to cut corners with things like custom phone/computer interfaces and other aspects of its production design that end up distracting rather than enhancing any sort of futuristic spell. (Other special effects, like the camera tricks that enable Karen Gillan to convincingly play both parts simultaneously, are quite impressive.) As a whole, Dual obviously shows flashes of brilliance that make it worth seeking out, but it would most likely have worked more seamlessly with greater resources to support its surprisingly lofty narrative ambitions.

For slightly more positive take on the material, please see Brian Orndorf's theatrical review. RLJ Entertainment's Blu-ray edition of Dual offers a respectable amount of support for the main feature (especially for its current price point), including an outstanding A/V presentation and a few extras that may boost your opinion of the film.

Dual Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

I am unsure of Dual's cinematographic roots but this Blu-ray's 1080p transfer is inarguably a fine effort from start to finish, boasting a clean and razor-sharp image with excellent color saturation and respectable fine detail. If it's an all-digital affair then grain has obviously been added, but not to a distracting degree as it largely enhances the film's visual effectiveness rather than distracts. Black levels and shadow detail are quite good, even in oddly-lit indoor sequences like Trent's lesson in front of an overhead projector (above - remember those?) and a dark morgue where an unsettling discovery is made (below). Other scenes, like the violent cold-open dual on a soccer field at night and a climactic meeting of the minds squished inside a kid's playhouse (screenshot #5) offer equally dim environments whose visual effectiveness isn't compromised by a lack of natural light. It's overall a very strong visual presentation that's almost impossible to find fault with, aside from a few fleeting moments of banding during fades or around harsh gradients. This is a fine-looking Blu-ray indeed, and one that likely runs laps around any streaming version.

Dual Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio plays it mostly straight, offering an appropriately reigned-in sonic atmosphere during a movie that's surprisingly light on action and overall suspense. Those stray moments of heightened activity obviously bring more noticeable surround activity and discrete panning effects to the table, as does the sporadic original score by Emma Ruth Rundle, but for the most part this is a largely front-loaded experience that gets the job done with no real problems. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the main feature only if you need them.

Dual Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a standard keepcase with poster-themed cover artwork, a matching slipcover, and a promotional insert. Bonus features are minimal but appreciated.

• Audio Commentary - This feature-length track with writer/director Riley Stearns is a breezy and enjoyable listen, touching upon all major aspect of the production such as casting, visual effects, the challenges of working on a a low budget, Emma Ruth Rundle's original score, developing the story, editing, working during a pandemic, cinematography, stories from the set, post-production, and more. There are very few lapses into silence along the way, making this one of the more engaging solo tracks I've heard in recent memory.

• The Making of "Dual" (9:49) - A short but sweet behind-the-scenes featurette that includes footage from the set as well as brief interviews with several key cast and crew members including Riley Stearns, producer Aram Tertzakian, and actors Karen Gillan, Beulah Koale, Theo James, and Aaron Paul.

Dual Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Riley Stearns' Dual takes another stab at black comedy -- this time laced with "alternate universe" sci-fi -- and while it doesn't connect on all levels, it shows occasional signs of brilliance. The end result is a fitfully engaging but somewhat thin emotional endeavor that, at the very least, offers an interesting performance by Karen Gillan that honestly makes us believe she's got a twin sister. RLJ Entertainment's Blu-ray offers support with a strong A/V presentation and a few solid extras, making this a potential blind buy... but it's more strongly recommended to established fans only.