Redbox Review: "Enemy" Is The Most Complex Movie I've Seen In 2014.

Enemy

Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Melanie Laurent, Sarah Gadon, and Isabella Rossellini.
Rated R for some strong sexual content, graphic nudity, and language.

I was mesmerized by what director Denis Villeneuve was able to do with last year's brilliant thriller, Prisoners, so I was very intrigued to catch this latest film of his also starring Jake Gyllenhaal (though technically this was filmed before Prisoners). I knew prior to seeing Enemy that I would have to engage my brain to fully appreciate and understand this complicated film. Though this is not a film that everyone will enjoy, it is a fascinating piece of filmmaking that is constructed with exact precision.


The plot involves a history professor named Adam in Toronto, Canada, who lectures on fascist and totalitarian governments throughout history. One day he rents a movie that was filmed locally on the recommendation of a colleague. While watching the movie, Adam notices something very peculiar. One of the extras looks exactly like him. Adam soon becomes obsessed with discovering who this mysterious doppelganger is. Are they related? How can there exist a man who looks identical to him? This obsession soon drives both men to make some startling discoveries about themselves.

I am merely glossing over this plot, because there is so much more that happens that make this film intellectually challenging and complex. Enemy is an intricate psychological thriller that invites the audience to put the pieces together. This is not the type of movie you put on for mindless escapism. This is a film that dares you to pay attention and come to your own conclusions. Every frame is set up and constructed with deliberate intent. The clues are all there. The end of the film will disturb you and invite you to make sense of what you just saw as well as invite you to take another look with a second viewing.

The tone of the film is quickly established by Villeneuve with his yellow color grading. The score is used to perfection throughout and it enhances the film's already creepy and disturbing feel. I cannot recommend this movie to any casual moviegoer, because it will frustrate those looking for entertainment. However, if you are one looking for an intellectual and metaphorical challenge, then Enemy just may be what you need. This is a riddled mystery; not so much a "who-done-it," but the type that gives you levels of meaning and symbolism with the hope that you will use your own mind to theorize your conclusion. I, for one, was fascinated by the film: the way it's put together, executed, filmed, acted, you name it. I look forward to watching it multiple times to fully dissect its many layered meanings and interpretations.

RATING: A-