Dead Ringers - Amazon Prime

[KillingMeDeftly]

Anyone watching this? A reboot of the 80s (or is it 90s?) Jeremy Irons film with Rachel Weisz as twin gynaecologists. It's not for the faint hearted but she is so good that you forget it isn't actually two actresses playing the lead roles!

It's on the watchlist but too intense for my mood just now. I don't think I ever saw the film. The plot is bonkers from looking it up. I will definitely give it a go when I'm feeling like it. I like Rachel Weisz.

We've just watched most of episode 1 and won't be watching episode 2+

Nothing in it grabbed my attention and I only put it on because I saw it had RW in it but no, just dark and slow. We were both bored.

I tried for 15 minutes earlier this evening and then gave up.

I heard RW's interview on Woman's Hour yesterday, and thought I would check out the Prime series.
(I might have missed the first part of the interview, but it seemed that there was no or very little mention of the fact that the story has already been done.... which I found annoying for some reason.)
I hated it - and watched only ten minutes. Given the warnings at the start, and knowing anyway the direction it takes, I should have known better.
I do not think the main characters will be sympathetic, and am sure the whole thing will be unnecessarily grisly - as was the film, even with the removal of the "antique" - or was it experimental - instruments.

The true story from the 70s that inspired it is so bizarre and creepy:

www.vulture.com/article/twin-gynecologists-stewart-marcus-cyril-marcus-dead-ringers-inspiration.html

@McSlowburn Thanks for the link - a very very interesting read, almost impossible not to see Jeremy Irons in mind's eye when reading. I just cannot imagine what it would be like to encounter such men/doctors, and as - of course - gynaecologists. Quite horrifying really.
As someone in the comments said, there was some sensationalism added to the film.
With this new version being a series, and based on the warnings, and the start of episode 1, I can only imagine what gruesome-ness will be added - for shock value and viewers' "pleasure".

@LatteOneShotplease I must say the series trailer looks complete over the top though - I don't think after reading what really happened I could watch it.

It may have happened back in the 70s, but they were real people with real families still probably massively affected by it after all these years.

I've watched the first 3 episodes now and although the scenes of childbirth are graphic, the most gruesome aspect of the story is the attitude of the super-rich donors the twins have to court to fund their birthing centre.

I am such a wimp, I would spend more time looking away from the screen.

I was telling Alexa quite firmly to turn off, even after the shower scene in Ep. 1.

But the super-rich power/control would be even more repulsive to me.

I watched the first two episodes yesterday and enjoyed it. I just love Rachel Weisz and she's brilliant as ever in this. Yes, graphic scenes of childbirth and miscarriage, and it's definitely not for the faint hearted, but the script is great and very funny

I'm looking forward to seeing it. I can't imagine how they retell the same story with women rather than men, so I'm guessing they use it as the springboard for essentially a different story?
In the original, so much of the power and the creepiness comes from the fact that the twins closely share with one another their sexual attraction to women, their creepy objectification of women, and also the repulsion and sadism they feel towards women's bodies. And then as I recall one of the twins forms a real relationship with a woman and the other is so destroyed by that, he becomes progressively more insane?
In other words it is a horror story about misogyny, so it is hard (but by no means inmpossible) to see how they story might figure women leads rather than men

I'm 7 months pregnant so giving it a miss for now 😂

@Random789 Hmm, yes, that's a thought - as that aspect was crucial to the plot of the original film (the instruments specifically played a role, and they are now omitted, thank God). Maybe they will detour the misogyny, or re-write it from a female perspective and adding in the power and control they might have over their patients, as well as the strange "good/evil" twin-relationship.

Thanks for the heads up on this. I'll give it a go.

I'm watching it and think it's very well written and RW is superb.

It's not the easiest watch (and if I'd had a difficult birth or fertility issues I'd give it a miss) but there are a number of brutally honest feminist strands running through it that appeal to me.
As well as the depictions of how black women in labour are repeatedly ignored.

And the grotesque Sackler-esque woman is suitably vile.

(No idea if it follows the original as never saw it).

I watched the first episode and thought it was rubbish tbh.

Very wise. I have just watched Episode 1 and remember being horrified and shocked by the original Kronenburg film with Jeremy Irons.
The 2 female doctors are unprofessional (and of course have English accents lol) and I can't help thinking the wrong sort of people will be 'getting off on' the gratuitous menstruation/childbirth details.
It most certainly will not inspire confidence in the medical profession.

God I thought it was dull. RW is excellent so can't imagine what made her go for this .. maybe awards bait.
Didn't mind the graphic content but it is just bizarre and dull. As if any doctor would chase after a patient that quickly.. certainly not one we are supposed to believe is the best of the best