Dual 2022
Directed by
Riley Stearns
Made by
Falcon Films
Plot Summary
In a dystopian future, we meet Sarah, portrayed by Karen Gillan, a woman grappling with deep emotional turmoil and battling alcoholism. Her relationship with her boyfriend, Peter (Beulah Koale), is uninspired and strained, and she feels increasingly detached from her nagging mother. One fateful day, Sarah wakes to a disturbing sight—a pool of blood in her bed. After medical consultations, she learns the shocking news: she has a terminal illness. Despite the doctor’s insistence that there is a mere 2% chance of error, he underscores that her death is inevitable.
Faced with the harsh reality of her situation, Sarah makes the extreme decision to undergo a cloning procedure, creating an exact duplicate of herself dubbed “Sarah’s Double.” She instills her clone with a foundational understanding of her interests and life. After ten months of struggling with her illness, Sarah receives miraculous news—she is in full remission and will live.
However, when Sarah rushes to share this joyous revelation with her mother, she discovers that Peter and her clone have been spending considerable time together, much to Sarah’s ire. The revelation shatters her plans as she confronts the uncomfortable truth—her clone has grown close to her family against her wishes. Attempting to reclaim normalcy, Sarah insists on decommissioning her double. Shockingly, both Peter and her mother side with the clone.
In an unforeseen twist, Sarah learns that her clone has chosen to live, which legally mandates a publicized duel to the death within a year—a battle they must both prepare for. In the wake of this challenge, Sarah invests in self-defense and combat training with Trent (Aaron Paul). Over the next year, she builds her physical and mental strength, gaining confidence through diligent practice and even teaching Trent hip-hop dancing.
As the duel approaches, Sarah resolves to confront her clone with the intent to kill her, setting the stage for a tragic confrontation. During a training session, she catches a glimpse of her double watching from a distance, prompting a heartfelt chase to a nearby playground. Here, the two engage in an emotional exchange, culminating in a pact to escape their dire circumstances together.
However, their bond is tested when Sarah discovers that her double has poisoned her water, leading to a critical climax. When the day of the duel arrives, Sarah’s Double arrives late, deceitfully claiming to be the original and alleging that the real Sarah has vanished. Amidst a subsequent investigation, the court ultimately declares her the original, granting her the freedom to assume Sarah’s identity. Yet, the emotional weight lingers as the clone is left facing her own despair, grappling with the same burdens that haunted the original, including a relationship with Peter and her devoted mother—who are both now aware of her clone status. In a poignant scene, Sarah’s Double, overwhelmed by the turmoil of her existence, breaks down while driving in circles in a roundabout, underscoring the haunting reality that identity and consciousness cannot be so easily exchanged.
Timeline
Introduction to Sarah
In a dystopian future, we meet Sarah, a woman deeply affected by emotional turmoil and struggling with alcoholism. Her relationships, particularly with her boyfriend Peter and her nagging mother, are strained and uninspired.
The Disturbing Discovery
One day, Sarah awakens to a horrifying sight—blood in her bed. After a medical consultation, she learns she has a terminal illness with a mere 2% chance of misdiagnosis, making her impending death a harsh reality.
Decision to Clone
Faced with her grim fate, Sarah opts for an extreme measure—a cloning procedure that creates an exact duplicate of herself, which she names 'Sarah's Double.' She embeds her interests and experiences into the clone before undergoing the procedure.
Miraculous Remission
After enduring ten months battling her illness, Sarah receives the incredible news that she is in full remission. This revelation brings a glimmer of hope as she approaches her mother to share the joyous turnaround.
The Betrayal
Upon sharing her remission news, Sarah discovers that Peter and her clone have formed a close bond, betraying her trust. This shocking revelation forces Sarah to confront the uncomfortable truth of her clone's relationship with her family.
Decommission Decision
Feeling betrayed and desperate to reclaim her life, Sarah insists on decommissioning her double. However, to her surprise, both Peter and her mother side with the clone, leaving Sarah isolated and distraught.
The Duel Challenge
In a shocking development, Sarah learns that her clone has chosen to live, triggering a legal mandate for a duel to the death within a year. Both Sarah and her clone must now prepare for this impending confrontation.
Training with Trent
To prepare for the duel, Sarah decides to invest in self-defense and combat training with Trent, a skilled fighter. Throughout this year, she builds both physical and mental strength, even finding joy in teaching Trent hip-hop dancing.
Emotional Confrontation
As the duel approaches, Sarah resolves to confront her clone with the intent to kill her. During a training session, she notices her double watching from a distance, leading to a heartfelt chase to a nearby playground.
Pact to Escape
At the playground, Sarah and her clone engage in an emotional exchange, ultimately forming a pact to escape their dire situation together. This moment of connection hints at their previously shared identity and struggle.
The Poisoning Incident
Their bond is soon put to the test when Sarah discovers that her double has poisoned her water, leading to a critical and dangerous moment in their relationship. This betrayal heightens the tension as the duel looms closer.
The Duel Day
On the day of the duel, Sarah's Double arrives late, deceitfully claiming to be the original while alleging that the real Sarah has vanished. This moment marks the beginning of a dramatic and tense public spectacle.
Court's Decision
Amid an investigation into the identity claims, the court ultimately declares Sarah's Double as the original, allowing her to assume Sarah's identity. This decision leaves both parties grappling with the emotional fallout.
Clones' Emotional Struggle
Left to face the ramifications of her new life, the clone struggles with the burdens of identity and consciousness. She faces the same challenges as the original, including her relationships with Peter and her mother.
The Final Scene
In a poignant scene, Sarah's Double breaks down while aimlessly driving in circles in a roundabout. This powerful moment underscores the haunting reality that identity and consciousness cannot be so easily exchanged, leaving her in despair.
Characters
Sarah
Sarah is a complex character who embodies despair and resilience in a dystopian world. She initially struggles with her addiction and a failing relationship, only to face a terminal illness that catalyzes her drastic decision to create a clone. As the story progresses, her transformation from a passive individual to a determined fighter showcases her inner strength.
Peter
Peter is Sarah's boyfriend, who becomes inadvertently caught in the emotional and ethical turmoil surrounding Sarah's clone. His actions highlight the complexities of love and fidelity in a situation that defies conventional boundaries. His attachment to both Sarah and her double raises questions about loyalty and identity.
Trent
Trent serves as a supportive ally to Sarah, helping her prepare for the unprecedented duel against her clone. His character adds a layer of friendship, mentorship, and growth to the narrative. Trent's journey reflects themes of empowerment and the transformative power of physical and mental strength.
Sarah's Double
Sarah's Double represents a complex exploration of identity and existence, as she mirrors Sarah's struggles yet navigates her own emotional landscape. Initially framed as an antagonist, her character development reveals her yearning for acceptance and autonomy, especially in a world that reduces her to mere replication.
Setting
Time period
Dystopian Era
This movie is set in a future that highlights the consequences of technological misuse and existential dilemmas. It reflects a society where cloning is a solution to mortality yet creates complex identity crises. Themes of despair and hope resonate strongly in this era, particularly regarding human relationships and the value of life.
Location
Dystopian Future
The story unfolds in a bleak dystopian future marked by societal collapse and technological advancements like cloning. It accentuates the emotional and ethical struggles of its characters, set against this harsh backdrop. Key locations include a serene playground that serves as the emotional backdrop for critical exchanges between Sarah and her clone.
Themes
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Identity Crisis
The theme of identity crisis is central to the film, as Sarah grapples with the emotional fallout from her cloning. The existence of her double complicates her relationships, particularly with Peter and her mother, leading to intense personal conflict. This theme highlights the struggle for self-definition amidst chaotic circumstances.
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Survival
Survival takes on multiple meanings in this narrative, from Sarah's fight against her illness to her struggle against her clone in a duel. The characters endure physical and emotional training, revealing the lengths one will go for self-preservation. Ultimately, survival tests their humanity and moral choices.
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Emotional Turmoil
Emily's journey is filled with profound emotional turmoil, as she battles addiction, terminal illness, and the reality of her clone's existence. This theme is visible in her relationships and decision-making, shaped by her desperate need for connection and understanding amidst chaos. The film poignantly portrays the fragility of the human condition.
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