A troubled relationship drama takes an interesting turn when it enters Twilight Zone territory populated by Stepford-ian characters. Well, there are only two lead protagonists played by Mark Duplass (one of Hollywood’s most appealing ordinary joes) and Elisabeth Moss of Mad Men, and they are sent by their therapist (Ted Danson, practically a cameo) to a weekend retreat at a villa where he vouched that it will cure all their marital problems.
Oh it cured Ethan and Sophie’s dilemmas alright, but with other people resembling them. As one of them went into one of the guest houses in the complex a doppelganger of their spouse will appear as their best selves, meaning that fake Sophie will present herself as all smiley and cooks him bacon for breakfast, and fake Ethan will come off as a sporty type and—most importantly—will carefully listen to her stories. And that’s all that Sophie needs to feel she matters, but of course real Ethan hopes that her attention is exclusively directed at him.
Charlie McDowell’s The One I Love certainly has an ingenious plot, tackling marital drama from a fresh, twisty angle. The idea of doppelgangers are not exactly original (recent films like Jesse Eisenberg's The Double and France's Deux, Remi, Deux deals with the concept as well) but the situation the characters are thrust into feels novel. The script by Justin Lader tries to explain how the doppelgangers came to be but my simple mind never comprehends the logic (and it is kinda convenient that the characters can only come inside the house one at a time, otherwise their twin will never show), and your suspension of disbelief will be further tested at the ending where the two couple finally confronts and decisions must be made.
But I enjoy the film more on the personal and psychological front: strip all the sci-fi elements and what you get is the story about the disintegration of a relationship because the other has met and fallen for someone—who annoyingly looks and sounds like his/her spouse—who fulfill their emotional needs. It’s an adult theme, in which the question of true love will always be tested in every way, including by enigmatic doppelgangers.
Watch The One I Love on Netflix.
Oh it cured Ethan and Sophie’s dilemmas alright, but with other people resembling them. As one of them went into one of the guest houses in the complex a doppelganger of their spouse will appear as their best selves, meaning that fake Sophie will present herself as all smiley and cooks him bacon for breakfast, and fake Ethan will come off as a sporty type and—most importantly—will carefully listen to her stories. And that’s all that Sophie needs to feel she matters, but of course real Ethan hopes that her attention is exclusively directed at him.
Charlie McDowell’s The One I Love certainly has an ingenious plot, tackling marital drama from a fresh, twisty angle. The idea of doppelgangers are not exactly original (recent films like Jesse Eisenberg's The Double and France's Deux, Remi, Deux deals with the concept as well) but the situation the characters are thrust into feels novel. The script by Justin Lader tries to explain how the doppelgangers came to be but my simple mind never comprehends the logic (and it is kinda convenient that the characters can only come inside the house one at a time, otherwise their twin will never show), and your suspension of disbelief will be further tested at the ending where the two couple finally confronts and decisions must be made.
But I enjoy the film more on the personal and psychological front: strip all the sci-fi elements and what you get is the story about the disintegration of a relationship because the other has met and fallen for someone—who annoyingly looks and sounds like his/her spouse—who fulfill their emotional needs. It’s an adult theme, in which the question of true love will always be tested in every way, including by enigmatic doppelgangers.
Watch The One I Love on Netflix.