Enemy is a very good psychological thriller. Jake Gyllenhaal plays two great
subtle characters. The muted colour palette and eerie score give a great atmosphere. Denis Villeneuve purposely leaves it vague and open ended. It's very strange had hard to decipher. I found it to be a lot more enjoyable upon trying to uncover its meaning and narrative. Upon a passive viewing and likely a first viewing Enemy is hard to understand and seems a bit nonsensical or chaotic. But as the opening card says 'chaos is order yet undeciphered.' So let me try:
Anthony and Adam are the same person, just two different personalities of the same person suffering from multiple personally disorder. There are several clues the allude to MPD instead of simply just a doppelganger. Firstly, apart from both men looking exactly the same they also share the same voice and even have the same scar on their chest. Although not directly shown it's apparent from Adam's reaction that they both share the scar. Secondly is the blueberries. Adam supposedly hates blueberries while Anthony enjoys them. And while in a scene with Adam's mother she insists that he does enjoy blueberries, further blurring the lines between the two. Lastly Adam and Anthony have the exact same photo with Helen. Adam's copy of the photo has Helen's half ripped off.
Adam and Helen seem to be the original couple. He has a fear of commitment maybe brought on or at least amplified by Helen's pregnancy. Adam protests against the restrictions his relationship puts on him. In response he's created this other personality trying escape his commitment. Anthony is living out the life that Adam is not. Anthony is domineering, drives a motorcycle, is pursuing Adam's ambitions to have an acting career and is living life with another women.
The spider I believe is a visual representation of fear. Adam has an intense fear of commitment. One of the most common fears is Arachnophobia, the fear of spiders. The spider is meant to personify fear and specifically Adam's fear of commitment. It's also interesting to note that in the sex club that Jake Gyllenhaal attends a spider is showcased. This spider however is stepped on, symbolizing his apathy for commitment.
The two personalities play out a war for dominance. Anthony is subsequently killed when Helen shows affection toward Adam and tell him "I want you to stay." The Anthony part of Adam's psyche dies in the car wreck.
We are lead to believe that Adam has had some sort of resolution but Hegel's words ring true as Adam unveils a key to the sex club and says "I think I have to go out."
"All the worlds greatest events happen twice. The first time as tragedy, the second as farce." 7.5/10
Anthony and Adam are the same person, just two different personalities of the same person suffering from multiple personally disorder. There are several clues the allude to MPD instead of simply just a doppelganger. Firstly, apart from both men looking exactly the same they also share the same voice and even have the same scar on their chest. Although not directly shown it's apparent from Adam's reaction that they both share the scar. Secondly is the blueberries. Adam supposedly hates blueberries while Anthony enjoys them. And while in a scene with Adam's mother she insists that he does enjoy blueberries, further blurring the lines between the two. Lastly Adam and Anthony have the exact same photo with Helen. Adam's copy of the photo has Helen's half ripped off.
Adam and Helen seem to be the original couple. He has a fear of commitment maybe brought on or at least amplified by Helen's pregnancy. Adam protests against the restrictions his relationship puts on him. In response he's created this other personality trying escape his commitment. Anthony is living out the life that Adam is not. Anthony is domineering, drives a motorcycle, is pursuing Adam's ambitions to have an acting career and is living life with another women.
The spider I believe is a visual representation of fear. Adam has an intense fear of commitment. One of the most common fears is Arachnophobia, the fear of spiders. The spider is meant to personify fear and specifically Adam's fear of commitment. It's also interesting to note that in the sex club that Jake Gyllenhaal attends a spider is showcased. This spider however is stepped on, symbolizing his apathy for commitment.
The two personalities play out a war for dominance. Anthony is subsequently killed when Helen shows affection toward Adam and tell him "I want you to stay." The Anthony part of Adam's psyche dies in the car wreck.
We are lead to believe that Adam has had some sort of resolution but Hegel's words ring true as Adam unveils a key to the sex club and says "I think I have to go out."
"All the worlds greatest events happen twice. The first time as tragedy, the second as farce." 7.5/10