The brutal reality of the entertainment industry is that some of the best movies ever bombed at the box office. Case in point is the British dark comedy thriller The Double. Directed by the brilliant Richard Ayoade, this massively underrated dark comedy features Jesse Eisenberg and Mia Wasikowska in starring roles. This adaptation of Dostoevsky‘s novella blended unbelievable humor with bold visuals. The result was an unsettling atmosphere and something audiences had never seen before.
Yet, despite its genius, The Double faded into the background behind bigger and more established releases back in 2013. Fast forward to the streaming era, and there is a case to be made that this film deserves a new lease on life. With Eisenberg pulling a double act to rival his performance in Now You See Me, and Wasikowska providing the perfect counterbalance, this movie feels fresher and more daring than most of what’s available on streaming platforms today.
Jesse Eisenberg’s Transformative Dual Performance in ‘The Double’
Whenever conversations about Jesse Eisenberg’s career as an actor come up, audiences, fans, and critics alike hold up his most popular works — The Social Network and Now You See Me. In The Double, however, he truly showcased his acting range by simultaneously portraying two very different characters: Simon James and James Simon. In the case of Simon, he’s meek, essentially the human equivalent of a wallflower. Scratch that — he is the wall itself. By tapping into a reserve not many thought he was capable of, Eisenberg makes Simon physically shrink. He makes his voice sound like he is apologizing for existing, and his colleagues don’t even acknowledge that existence.
Then there’s James, who is everything Simon is not — which is relaxed, assertive, instantly likable, essentially a go-getter with a knowing smirk. He commands attention just by being in the room. The wild part? Both characters were played by Eisenberg, who switched personas with rare skill and ease. Behind-the-scenes footage shows the sheer amount of technical work involved. Eisenberg’s dual role in The Double matters because the film consistently places both versions of him in the same scene. While the technical work — editing, staging, and timing — was a work of art, it was Eisenberg’s ability to essentially act against himself that sells the illusion. Despite being aware that the same actor is behind both characters, there is no doubt in the minds of audiences that Simon and James are distinct individuals.
Critics were quick to praise Eisenberg’s dual role for several reasons. First, he brought more technical skills and emotional depth to this movie compared to some of his other lauded works, such as Now You See Me and Batman. Beyond his technical abilities, he also successfully balanced the film’s surreal and absurdist tone with heartfelt human emotion. Without that, the movie could have collapsed under the weight of a style-over-substance tag. Yet, even with this achievement, the limited release of the movie meant that few audiences were able to see it. Nevertheless, thanks to the emergence of various streaming platforms, viewers can easily access and rediscover Eisenberg’s brilliance in The Double.
RELATED: Richard Ayoade’s Directorial Debut Gave Us an Excruciatingly Relatable Coming-of-Age Story
Mia Wasikowska Is The Surreal Heart of ‘The Double’
If Eisenberg is the flashy dual-firing Engine, then co-star Mia Wasikowska is the quiet, beating heart of the movie. She plays Hannah, Simon’s co-worker and crush. Her steady, layered performance further makes the movie relatable. Under Ayoade’s direction, Hannah is more than just the Manic Pixie Dream Girl whose responsibility is to motivate the lonely Simon. She is also an artistic and introspective individual who has dreams of achieving intimacy and recognition. In this way, she mirrors Simon’s detached demeanor, but crucially, she shows she is not a prize to be won. This balance shows warmth and distance in a way that complicates Simon’s desire.
Wasikowska proved she was the perfect actress for the job by easily adapting to Ayoade’s ethereal and grounded style. She achieved this by adding subtle emotional layers that convey meaning without requiring her to raise her voice. This ability is made more prominent when you take into account the fact that she had established herself as one of the most versatile young actresses in movies like Alice in Wonderland and Jane Eyre. Her chemistry (or lack thereof) with Eisenberg’s dual characters truly demonstrates her range. To Simon, Wasikowska’s Hannah is cool: generally nice, without being overly engaging. However, when James is in the room, out comes this passionate, responsive character whose actions totally devastate Simon. For Wasikowska, The Double stands as one of her most underrated roles.
Why ‘The Double’ Still Deserves Recognition in Today’s Streaming Era
More than a decade after its release and critical praise, it suddenly feels like The Double deserves a more thorough second look. Why? The film’s themes of anxiety and dual personalities aptly represent this age of anxiety, burnout, and carefully curated online personas. When broken down to the nitty-gritty, many fans have felt like Simon James. They’ve been ignored, watched someone else get credit for their work, and experienced the soul-crushing nature of meaningless work. On the other hand, some embody the same qualities as James Simon: the confident influencer, the arrogant colleague who succeeds on pure confidence, while actually talented people are pushed aside. So, given the avalanche of streaming platforms and the current social media age, it feels like a crime that The Double hasn’t received more attention.
Granted, the film’s surreal visuals and dark humor made it difficult to market alongside more conventional films when it was released in 2013, subsequently resulting in its disappearance from theaters and its transformation into a hidden gem that only dedicated movie lovers sought out. However, today’s streaming era removes all those roadblocks. Thank goodness.
If you enjoy dark comedies that actually make you think (and feel deeply uncomfortable), check out The Double on HBO Max.
