Rachel Weisz is truly having her moment, with the star earning plaudits in her latest drama, Vladimir. But if you've already binged the eight-part drama, then Prime has the perfect drama for you.
Back in 2023, the network aired Dead Ringers, a six-part mini-series that was a remake of the 1988 film of the same name that starred Jeremy Irons as twin gynaecologists. The Prime series gender-swapped the main characters, with Rachel playing both Beverly and Elliot Mantle.
While the original film featured the main characters operating from their own clinic, the mini-series follows the Mantle sisters as they attempt to set up their own birthing clinic.
The official synopsis reads: "A modern take on David Cronenberg's 1988 thriller, Dead Ringers features Rachel Weisz playing the double-lead role of Elliot and Beverly Mantle, twins who share everything: Drugs, lovers, and an unapologetic desire to do whatever it takes—including pushing the boundaries on medical ethics—in an effort to challenge antiquated practices and bring women's healthcare to the forefront."
Intrigued? Read on for more…
Who stars in Dead Ringers?
As we've mentioned, the cast is led by Vladimir's Rachel Weisz who plays identical twin sisters Beverly and Elliot Mantle. Rachel won plaudits for her portrayal of the morally dubious pair, being nominated for Best Actress at Astra TV Awards and Golden Globes and winning the prize at the Satellite Awards.
© Niko Tavernise/Prime VideoDead Ringers also stars Britne Oldford (The Umbrella Academy), Poppy Liu (Better Call Saul), Jennifer Ehle (Pride and Prejudice), Michael Chernus (Severance), Jeremy Shamos (Only Murders in the Building) and Emily Meade (The Deuce).
Making guest appearances in the show are Susan Blommaert (The Blacklist), Suzanne Bertish (Mercy Street), Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean), Anthony Crane (Outer Banks), Michael McKean (Laverne & Shirley), Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine (The Lincoln Lawyer) and Erica Sweany (Eye Candy).
Reception
Critics were fairly universal in their praise for Dead Ringers, with the show holding an 85% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Writing in Variety, Alison Herman said: "Gender-swapped reboots too often carry a whiff of sanctimony, but [the series] is as perverse and profane as any great Cronenberg homage. Dead Ringers is more than a gimmick; it’s a cerebral spin on a nightmare."
However, fans were a lot more divided over the series. One said: "Rachel Weisz deserves every accolade for her performance. I gained a lot of respect for her after this series that I never had before. I mean, I knew she was good, but WOW! The little nuances in body language and facial contortions that define the twins is astonishing! Great series!"
© Niko Tavernise/Prime VideoA second penned: "I definitely recommend it, especially if you are very bored of the usual pasty bland stuff that has been coming out recently," while a third opined: "This show had me hooked from the first episode. If you can stomach the multiple themes of miscarriage, birth, suicide, drugs, alcoholism and murder; then it's a brilliant story. But it's certainly not easy to watch."
However, one complained: "Ms. Weisz is given wide range to do as she pleases but in the end, it's all just too much. The show is beyond over the top, it's beyond too long, it's beyond pretentious," while another lamented: "What an incredible waste of time this was. I had such a big expectation that this would be great especially because of Rachel Weisz but no not even her impeccable acting could save it."
