DVD Review - Enemy (2015)

Whilst watching Enemy, I had the sneaking suspicion that the review was going to be tougher than usual to assemble. I will say straight off the bat that this film is not for everyone. Whilst it has a rather familiar Twilight Zone-esque central conceit, there are no easy answers presented and hand-holding is non existant. This isn’t a Friday night Netflix-and-a-takeaway type film. It’s dark, subtle and atmospheric. I would say it’s more along the lines of something like Valhalla Rising or Only God Forgives. Whilst it does have more of a coherent story than both of my examples, it was the almost tone poem sense to it all that reminded me of Nicolas Winding Refn‘s work. More after the obligatory plot summary paragraph.

Adam Bell (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a college history professor who seems to be living a rather hollow existence. He rents a film in an effort to lift his spirits and notices a bit-part actor in it who looks identical to him. He soon becomes obsessed with the guy and tracks down his other films. He eventually gets to the point where he realises he needs to track this man down in an attempt to get some answers. That’s all I’m really comfortable of divulging. The cast are fantastic. It’s tempting to say that Jake Gyllenhaal gives a powerhouse performance, but I believe that gives the wrong kind of expectation. His various turns are full of subtleties and attention to detail. Mélanie Laurent and Sarah Gadon also do fantastic work.

Much like director Denis Villenueve‘s previous Gyllenhaall collaboration Prisoners, Enemy is a masterclass in atmosphere and tension. Shot in Toronto, the film looks intentionally sickly and there’s so much yellow and brown used it’s like we’re viewing the film through a beaker of piss. The music is also unnerving and it gives a great sense of unease. I felt legitimately uncomfortable watching and I have to respect any kind of film that can grab and twist my emotional nuts so deviously and effectively. Most importantly, I was completely engaged with it. Whilst I was nervous for almost the entire duration of the film and felt myself shifting in my seat, I still wanted to see what happened next, which is the hurdle other films of this brain-bendy ilk have failed to clear. For all the surreal elements, I still had a basic grip of what was happening and it held my attention until the credits rolled.

As I said, Enemy isn’t the kind of storytelling that common or conventional. It’s in no hurry to explain itself and some of the cutaways and surreal sequences feel more like an experimental art project than anything else. We open with the quotation “chaos is order yet undeciphered” which is important to keep in mind throughout. Enemy doesn’t give us all the answers, but it certainly leaves us with several possible interpretations. As soon as I was done watching, I leapt onto the internet to see what other people had said about it. It’s the sort of film that I couldn’t wait to talk about with my more cine-literate friends. If the point of art is to inflame imagination and discussion, then Enemy certainly does that and then some.

Not knowing each of you personally, I have no idea how you would react to this film. I could certainly understand strong opinions either way on this one. If you’re the sort of weird person I am who likes challenging films that make you feel rather stupid in comparison and on edge the entire time, Enemy is for you. There are so many elements and images from it that are already indelibly burned on my brain that I can say with certainty that it’s going to stick in my mind for a long time. Would I recommend it? Yeah. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen recently and it’s an experience that I feel people should have, no matter their opinion of it afterwards.

[rating=4]
Ben Browne

Genre:Mystery, Thriller Genre: Curzon Film World BD/DVD Release Date:9th February 2015 (UK)
Director:Denis Villeneuve Cast:Jake Gyllenhaal, Mélanie Laurent, Sarah Gadon, Isabella Rossellini
Buy:Enemy [Blu-ray]