SOURCE: “Cronenberg's Double Meanings,” in American Film, Vol. 14, No. 5, October, 1988, pp. 38–43.

In the following essay, Gleiberman discusses the themes in Dead Ringers.

One doesn't expect to see David Cronenberg shooting a love scene, yet that’s what he’s doing—and damned if he doesn’t recall one of those legendary directors from the silent-film days, staring raptly at the set before him and murmuring commands into the air. His two leads, Jeremy Irons and Genevieve Bujold, are kissing in bed, and, as Cronenberg gazes into his video monitor a few feet way, he shapes the action as it happens. “Kiss his neck, Genevieve,” he says. “Move down, slowly, away from his shirt button. Now you sit up. You see something! You’re terrified! Now slowly move back …”

Okay, so it isn’t just a love scene. In a few moments, other stuff is going to happen—Cronenbergian...