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Drama thriller

Double Lover (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Double Lover (2018) movie poster

Double Lover is a 2018 drama thriller directed by François Ozon, starring Jacqueline Bisset as Mme Schenker et la mère de Chloé, Marine Vacth and Jérémie Renier. It runs 1 hour 47 minutes and earned $5 million worldwide on a $7.3 million budget. Critics gave it 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10.

IMDb rating
6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
70%
worldwide gross
$5M
Echo Score
67
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Double Lover (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 47m (107 min)
Director
François Ozon
Genres
Drama , Thriller , Romance
Original language
French
Budget
$7.3M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Double Lover About?

The premise of Double Lover without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

While undergoing psychoanalysis in Paris, Chloé develops a close relationship with her doctor, Paul. As their connection deepens, she finds comfort and begins a new chapter in her life. However, unsettling doubts surface, leading Chloé down a complicated path of obsession and deceit. The truth she uncovers threatens to shatter her world and reveal a devastating secret.

Double Lover Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • identical twins
  • gynaecologist
  • cunnilingus
  • pegging
  • speculum
  • model
  • nipples
  • paris france
  • doctor patient relationship
  • threesome
  • menstruation
  • sex standing up
+38 more
  • caught having sex
  • looking at oneself in a mirror while naked
  • doppelganger
  • sex shop
  • twin brothers
  • cat
  • art museum
  • watching someone masturbate
  • vulva
  • female rear nudity
  • female masturbation
  • erotica
  • sex scene
  • male rear nudity
  • masturbation
  • oral sex
  • voyeur
  • menage a trois
  • rape
  • sex in bed
  • female nudity
  • pregnancy
  • dream sequence
  • vomiting
  • twin brother
  • name change
  • therapy session
  • psychiatrist
  • based on novel
  • male masturbation
  • rear entry sex
  • anal sex
  • female voyeur
  • pubic hair
  • woman penetrates a man anally
  • male male kiss
  • strap on dildo
  • waking up naked
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Cast & crew

Double Lover Cast & Characters

Jacqueline Bisset leads the cast as Mme Schenker et la mère de Chloé, with Marine Vacth as Chloé and Jérémie Renier as Paul et Louis. Directed by François Ozon; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Double Lover

· 6 more
Ratings

Double Lover Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Double Lover 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 67/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in story & flow (50).

67 /100

Double Lover Echo Score Breakdown

Double Lover delivers a striking visual and sensory experience but struggles with narrative coherence and tonal consistency. While reviewers praised the inventive direction, polished cinematography, and compelling psychoanalytic themes, many noted that the story’s melodramatic twists and abrupt conclusion undermine sustained engagement. The performances by Marine Vacth and Jérémie Renier bring depth, yet the uneven pacing and unresolved plot threads temper the film’s overall impact.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of art and craft, the film’s direction and cinematography stand out through inventive framing and a polished, high-contrast palette. The production design effectively underscores the erotic thriller tone, with coherent costuming and set details that reinforce character psychology. Some critics found the stylistic flourishes bordering on excess, but the overall visual cohesion remains a highlight of the experience.

  • Character & Emotion 72

    When it comes to character and emotion, the leads deliver committed performances that anchor the film’s psychological ambitions. Marine Vacth’s portrayal balances vulnerability and seduction, while Jérémie Renier adds a subtle menace. The thematic symbolism offers moments of depth, but some dialogue feels perfunctory and the emotional payoffs are uneven. Overall, the acting elevates certain sequences despite occasional lapses in resonance.

  • Story & Flow 50

    Plot coherence and pacing prove to be the film’s primary limitations, with narrative twists that increasingly strain credibility. Early psychological intrigue gives way to melodramatic reversals and an abrupt finale that many viewers found unsatisfying. Although the premise of twin identity and desire offers originality, inconsistent development and jarring tonal shifts undermine engagement. In sum, the story’s uneven structure is a notable drawback.

  • Sensory Experience 78

    In terms of sensory experience, the film excels at delivering a steamy and immersive atmosphere. The soundtrack and sound design punctuate key moments with jarring effects, while the visual style employs reflective framing and high-contrast imagery to heighten tension. Some viewers felt that the erotic motifs grew repetitive, but overall the cohesion of audio and visual elements creates a compelling sensory landscape.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    Regarding rewatch value, the film’s provocative themes and symbolic layers offer potential for repeat viewings. The psychoanalytic undercurrents and visual motifs may reveal new subtleties, yet the uneven narrative and abrupt conclusion limit lasting appeal. While some may revisit the stylistic elements and performances, the inconsistent tone and unresolved plot points make the prospect of a satisfying second viewing less likely.

Plot

Double Lover Plot Summary

What happens in Double Lover from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Chloé, Marine Vacth, a plain-looking museum attendant, struggles with depression and chronic abdominal pain. A gynecologist finds no physical cause and tells her she likely needs psychiatric help.

She begins treatment with Paul, Jérémie Renier, and under his compassionate care she grows more confident and warmer in her interactions. They fall in love and move into an apartment together. While settling in, she discovers that Paul has changed his name and hidden important family details from her.

In the street she notices Paul’s double, a psychiatrist named Louis. She books a session with him, and he is aggressive, which prompts her to leave. In a subsequent session, he nearly rapes her. It becomes clear that the violent Louis is the estranged twin of the gentle Paul.

Full summary

The whole story of Double Lover, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Double Lover Box Office & Budget

Double Lover grossed $5 million worldwide on a $7.3 million budget, 69% of what it cost. $167,581 came from the US and Canada and $4.8 million (97%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$5M

69% of its budget back

US & Canada
$167.6K
International
$4.8M
Budget
$7.3M
US & Canada 3% Rest of the world 97%
Videos

Double Lover Trailers & Videos

3 videos: 2 trailers and 1 clip.

Official Trailer [FR]
  • Trailer Official Trailer [US]
  • Clip
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Double Lover?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who plays the role of Chloé in the film?

Seen Double Lover?

FAQ

Double Lover FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Double Lover, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Double Lover?

Double Lover runs 1 hour 47 minutes (107 minutes).

When was Double Lover released?

Double Lover was released on February 14, 2018.

Who directed Double Lover?

Double Lover was directed by François Ozon.

More films by François Ozon

Who is in the cast of Double Lover?

Double Lover stars Jacqueline Bisset as Mme Schenker et la mère de Chloé, Marine Vacth as Chloé and Jérémie Renier as Paul et Louis, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Double Lover make at the box office?

Double Lover grossed $5 million worldwide ($167,581 domestic, $4.8 million international) on a budget of $7.3 million.

How is Double Lover rated?

Double Lover has 6.2/10 on IMDb, 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, 61% on TMDB and 3.9/5 on Movie Insider.

Does Double Lover have a post-credit scene?

No. Double Lover has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Double Lover in?

The original language of Double Lover is French.

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