Doppelganger

Doppelganger

Year: 1993

Runtime: 104 mins

Language: English

Director: Avi Nesher

ThrillerMysteryHorrorHorror

In every good there is evil, but for Holly Gooding the darkness is far greater. After being implicated in a murder, she escapes New York, settles in Los Angeles and rents a room from a writer. Their affair ignites, yet a murderous copy of Holly appears, stalking her every step.

Doppelganger (1993) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Doppelganger (1993) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the wake of a scandal that forces her to flee the relentless pace of New York, Holly Gooding arrives in Los Angeles searching for a fresh start. The city, a glittering contrast to the East Coast’s shadows, offers her anonymity amid its sun‑drenched streets and perpetual hum of possibility. Yet the sense that “good” and “evil” are merely two faces of the same coin lingers, hinting that the darkness she tries to escape may be more personal than she imagined.

She finds temporary refuge in a modest room advertised by a struggling writer, Patrick Highsmith, whose curiosity about his new tenant quickly blossoms into a charged, intimate connection. Their tentative affair weaves together the raw tension of two strangers bound by secrets and the uneasy allure of a city that never quite sleeps. As they navigate the cramped living space and the sprawling urban landscape, an unsettling presence begins to shadow Holly— a perfect, murderous copy that mirrors her every move, turning ordinary moments into whispered threats.

The film settles into a moody, psychological thriller that blurs the line between reality and illusion. Los Angeles becomes a character in its own right, its bright façade masking an undercurrent of dread that amplifies Holly’s internal struggle and Patrick’s growing obsession. The atmosphere crackles with a quiet menace, inviting the audience to question whether the real danger lies in the external world or within the fractured reflections of identity itself. As the story unfolds, the uneasy partnership between Holly and Patrick fuels a tense dance of attraction and suspicion, leaving viewers perched on the edge of an ever‑deepening mystery.

Last Updated: November 29, 2025 at 04:40

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Gaslighting thrillers like Doppelganger

Stories where a protagonist's reality is systematically dismantled by hidden forces.If you liked the psychological manipulation and disorienting paranoia in Doppelganger, you'll find similar chilling experiences in these movies. This list features thrillers and horror stories where characters are systematically gaslit, making them doubt their own sanity amidst a hidden conspiracy or sinister plot.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows a vulnerable protagonist, often isolated or recovering from trauma, who begins to notice unsettling inconsistencies in their world. As they try to uncover the truth, external forces actively work to discredit them, leading to a deepening sense of isolation and a desperate fight to hold onto their sanity.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are grouped by their central theme of psychological manipulation and the erosion of reality. They share a tense, claustrophobic tone that puts the viewer directly into the protagonist's anxious and paranoid headspace, creating a deeply unsettling viewing experience.

Evil double movies like Doppelganger

Tales of sinister duplicates that threaten to steal your life and identity.For viewers who enjoyed the core premise of a murderous double in Doppelganger, this collection features similar movies about evil doppelgangers and sinister twins. These films deliver a specific kind of horror rooted in the violation of identity, often blending psychological tension with supernatural or monstrous elements.

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Narrative Summary

The plot usually involves a protagonist who encounters their exact double, often with malicious intent. The double works to destroy the protagonist's life, relationships, and sanity, leading to a conflict that is as much about internal identity as it is about external survival. The endings are frequently ambiguous, leaving the threat potentially unresolved.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by the core motif of the evil twin or doppelganger. They share a pervasive sense of the uncanny and a high-tension tone driven by the violation of one's most fundamental sense of self. The experience is psychologically intense and deeply disorienting.

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Doppelganger Summary

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Doppelganger Summary

Doppelganger Timeline

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Doppelganger Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Doppelganger

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Doppelganger

More About Doppelganger

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