From the creator of “Faults” and “The Art of Self-Defense” comes a science fiction tale that’s full of satire and intrigue. With a runtime of 95 minutes, the film is quick to introduce the premise and thrust you straight into the world that Riley Stearns has created. The small cast includes Karen Gillan, of the “Guardians of the Galaxy” series, Aaron Paul, of “Breaking Bad,” and smaller performances from Beulah Koale and Theo James. 

Similar to the world of Michael Bay’s “The Island”, this film presents us with a version of the present where a terminally ill loved one can elect to create a duplicate of themselves. This procedure is sold as a way for families to keep living without having to grieve the loss of a family member. Flash cloning allows for an instant clone that looks and sounds the same as the loved one, but requires time and “training” to fully embrace the personality of the person the clone is supposed to replace. 

In “Dual”, Karen Gillan plays Sara, who is suddenly hit with the news that she is dying from a severe and incurable disease. She’s given a very short time to live, and elects to spend all of her savings on a clone of herself. Within hours, Sara has an exact duplicate of herself to take home and acclimate. Sara teaches the clone everything from fashion choices, to eating preferences, to things about her boyfriend and her family. Unfortunately, Sara’s disease doesn’t seem to kill her off as quickly as her doctor had predicted, and she is forced to watch as her copy takes over her life, her family, and her love interest. 

Another norm in this society is televised public executions. Instead of the needle or the electric chair, however, criminals can elect to duel someone to the death. The winner of the duel also wins their freedom. In the case of cloning, a clone and an original can not co-exist for too long before one is required by law to be killed off. Thus, clones and originals are forced to duel to the death for their right to live. When Sara finds herself in this predicament, she seeks help from Trent, a skilled combat instructor played by Aaron Paul. Who will win, the clone who’s just blooming into her new life, or the original Sara who doesn’t want to die just yet? 

I won’t say much more about the film, for fear of spoilers, but if it sounds straight to the point, it most certainly is. Everything from the editing choices to the super cold, dry, almost robotic dialogue is injected into this film on purpose by Stearns. While the world seems to be very much a duplicate of our current 2022 reality, Stearns populates each scene with characters that are so blunt, so deadpan, that it comes off as alien. “Dual” is the opposite of what you might think a film about two people fighting for the right to live would be. It isn’t action-packed, it isn’t explosive and thrilling, but it does present an unnerving intensity that keeps pace throughout the film. I came out of this film more intrigued than entertained. It is an interesting watch, for sure.

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Mental Health Moment: Life is full of obstacles; some you can see coming, while others hit so hard it knocks the breath out of your lungs. Many of us have this misguided need to internalize our struggles as we don’t wish to burden our friends or loved ones with drama. Whether the obstacle is something small and easy to overcome, or a mountain that might never be conquered, dealing with that obstacle is always easier when there is someone by your side. That someone could be a friend, a family member, or a stranger. That stranger could be a trained professional (counselor, psychiatrist, doctor) or just someone on the other end of a hotline. Either way, make your life easier by seeking help when you need it. There are plenty of people willing to be there for you.

If you or someone you know is reading this right now and struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message, or tweet at us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!

Victims and Villains is written (and produced) by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey and others, and edited by Cam Smith. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. Dual is property of XYZ Films and RLJE Films. We do not own nor claim any rights.

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