Dead Ringers

Available on Amazon Prime

This small-screen adaptation of David Cronenberg’s 1988 film could easily have been called Bad Sisters, had Sharon Hogan not already called dibs on it. Nonetheless, like Horgan’s excellent Apple TV comedy, this is a project that is almost entirely focused on femininity and sisterhood within the sphere of modern times. Though it may not be as funny or empathic as that show, it is an intriguing and challenging experience that further demonstrates Amazon’s commitment to making unsettling dramas (it’s no coincide that this closely followed the release of Donald Glover’s Swarm).

Dead Ringers is adapted by the British writer Alice Birch and it’s quickly easy to identify the fingerprints of her previous television work, specifically the complex sexual dynamics of Normal People and the biting dialogue and innate cynicism of Succession. Sadly, this project doesn’t quite manage to meet the lofty standards of either of those works and struggles to evolve within the generous confines of its six-episode run.

Nonetheless, it’s rewarding to see a show that is so unapologetically focused on the unique trappings of womanhood, something which is demonstrated by its unflinching portrayal of pregnancy, miscarriage, and menstruation. Rachel Weisz is on stellar form in her dual lead role as twin gynaecologists whose intrinsic connection spells trouble for those that encounter them, with Britne Oldford and Poppy Liu standing out from the supporting cast.

As said, Dead Ringers never fully moves beyond its quirky central premise but, when at its best, is unnervingly good fun and arguably a career standout for Weisz, who dominates proceedings from beginning to end.