Dual (2022): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
Dual is a 2022 sci-fi thriller directed by Riley Stearns, starring Karen Gillan as Sarah, Beulah Koale and Aaron Paul. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes and earned $425,909 worldwide on a $4.5 million budget. It won 1 award from 1 nomination, including Best Independent Film at the Saturn Awards 2022. Critics gave it 71% on Rotten Tomatoes and 62 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 34m (94 min)
- Director
- Riley Stearns
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Falcon Films
- Budget
- $4.5M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Dual About?
The premise of Dual without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
Facing a terminal illness, Sarah opts for a cloning procedure to ease the pain for her family. However, her unexpected recovery throws everything into disarray. Authorities now consider her clone a liability, mandating a duel to the death. Sarah must train for a year, or risk elimination in a bizarre and unsettling competition.
Dual Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- clone
- terminal illness
- near future
- duel to the death
- personal trainer
- recovery from terminal diagnosis
- dead body
- dance sequence
- vomit
- blood stained pillow
- dream sequence
- mother daughter relationship
+38 more Show fewer
- medical diagnosis
- stabbed to death
- sports field
- forest
- contact lenses
- gun training
- murder
- rivalry
- dog killed with an arrow
- glass shattered
- car crash
- video call
- strained relationship
- human cloning
- support group
- letter of apology
- morgue
- park
- bad driver
- hip hop dancer
- fighting one's clone
- clone versus original
- fighting one's doppelganger
- terminal diagnosis
- poison
- attempted murder
- killing a dog
- hiring an attorney
- independent film
- woman watches internet porn
- twins
- nightmare
- doctor
- shot with an arrow
- martial arts
- away from home
- fictional horror movie franchise
- watching a horror movie
Dual Cast & Characters
Karen Gillan leads the cast as Sarah, with Beulah Koale as Peter and Aaron Paul as Trent. Directed by Riley Stearns; 12 actors are credited in all.
- Director Riley Stearns
-
Karen Gillan as Sarah -
Beulah Koale as Peter -
Aaron Paul as Trent -
Theo James as Robert Michaels
Also Starring in Dual
· 8 more- Rea Lest Emergency Room Receptionist
- Maija Paunio Sarah's Mother
- Kristofer Gummerus Tom
- Donat Balaj
- Elina Jackson Official with Flags
- June Hyde Gastroenterologist
- Nico Siekkinen Two Identical Handsome Men
- Andrei Alen
More from Riley Stearns
More films directed by Riley Stearns, best-rated first: Faults, The Art of Self-Defense, Casque and Magnificat.
Dual Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Dual 71% on Rotten Tomatoes and 62 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 64/100, strongest in character & emotion (78) and weakest in rewatch factor (52).
Dual Echo Score Breakdown
Dual provokes divergent reactions, balancing a striking premise with uneven execution. Critics cite a compelling satire and strong central performance, while others note a thin emotional core and uneven comedy. Viewer comments echo this split, praising the concept and visual tone yet criticizing pacing and character development. The film offers moments of originality but often retreats from narrative payoff, resulting in a mixed overall impression.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 58
In terms of art and craft, the film presents a distinct visual style that some reviewers found memorable, with dark cinematography and a detached aesthetic. However, several critics pointed to flat execution, ineffective editing, and a lack of cinematic depth. The mixed feedback reflects both inventive design choices and perceived technical shortcomings, leading to an overall modest appraisal of the film’s craftsmanship.
- Character & Emotion 78
When evaluating character and emotion, Karen Gillan's dual performance received consistent praise, and many noted solid acting across the cast. Nonetheless, a few reviews highlighted stiff portrayals and limited emotional resonance. The majority of commentary underscores strong central acting against occasional superficiality, resulting in a relatively high assessment of the film’s character work.
- Story & Flow 62
Regarding story and flow, Dual offers an intriguing premise about cloning and societal critique that some found thought‑provoking. Yet many critics described the narrative as uneven, with pacing issues and a unsatisfying conclusion. The balance of originality and narrative friction produces a mid‑range rating, reflecting both the film’s conceptual strengths and its structural weaknesses.
- Sensory Experience 68
In the sensory experience domain, reviewers highlighted the film’s dark, atmospheric visuals and purposeful sound design that reinforce its sci‑fi tone. While certain comments noted a static or underwhelming auditory component, the prevailing sentiment appreciates the cohesive aesthetic. This results in a generally favorable assessment of the film’s sensory qualities.
- Rewatch Factor 52
For rewatch factor, the film’s unique concept and occasional dark humor invite repeat viewings for some audiences. Conversely, many cited a rushed ending and limited narrative payoff that diminish lasting appeal. The mixed reactions to replay value lead to a modest score, indicating that the film may not sustain strong long‑term interest for most viewers.
-
IMDb 5.8 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 71% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 62%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 62 Metascore
User score 5.3
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 60% User score
See on TMDB -
Movie Insider 4.5 /5
See on Movie Insider
Dual Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Dual from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In a dystopian future, we meet Sarah, portrayed by Karen Gillan, a woman grappling with deep emotional turmoil and battling alcoholism. Her relationship with her boyfriend, Peter (Beulah Koale), is uninspired and strained, and she feels increasingly detached from her nagging mother. One fateful day, Sarah wakes to a disturbing sight—a pool of blood in her bed. After medical consultations, she learns the shocking news: she has a terminal illness. Despite the doctor’s insistence that there is a mere 2% chance of error, he underscores that her death is inevitable.
Full summary
The whole story of Dual, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Dual Box Office & Budget
Dual grossed $425,909 worldwide on a $4.5 million budget, 9% of what it cost. $185,212 came from the US and Canada and $240,697 (57%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$425.9K
9% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $185.2K
- International
- $240.7K
- Budget
- $4.5M
Dual Awards & Nominations
Dual won 1 award from 1 nomination, including Best Independent Film at the Saturn Awards 2022.
1 win1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Saturn Awards 2022 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Best Independent Film
Dual Trailers & Videos
4 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser and 1 featurette.
- Trailer Official UK Trailer
- Teaser Trailer Tease
- Featurette Riley Stearns on "Dual"
How Well Do You Know Dual?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What prompts Sarah to consider cloning?
Dual Also Known As
25 alternative titles, including “双重躯体” and “Clon”.
- Also known as
-
- 双重躯体
- Clon
- Klons
- دوگانه
- Pár-baj
- Клон
- 듀얼: 나를 죽여라
- Klón
- Dvojnica
- 雙重身分
- Cuộc Đấu Tay Đôi
- Dvojník
+13 more Show fewer
- Klonas
- Dual - Il clone
- Двійник
- مزدوجة
- כפולה
- Doble
- همزاد
- デュアル
- Duel
- क्लोन का कहर
- المستنسخة
- คู่ดวล
- Kloon
Seen Dual?
Movies Like Dual
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Duel, Cloned and Replicant.
Dual FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Dual, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Dual?
Dual runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).
When was Dual released?
Dual was released on April 15, 2022.
Who directed Dual?
Dual was directed by Riley Stearns.
More films by Riley Stearns Who is in the cast of Dual?
Dual stars Karen Gillan as Sarah, Beulah Koale as Peter and Aaron Paul as Trent, among 12 credited actors.
How much did Dual make at the box office?
Dual grossed $425,909 worldwide ($185,212 domestic, $240,697 international) on a budget of $4.5 million.
How is Dual rated?
Dual has 5.8/10 on IMDb, 71% on Rotten Tomatoes, 62 on Metacritic and 60% on TMDB.
What awards did Dual win?
Dual won 1 award from 1 nomination, including Best Independent Film at the Saturn Awards 2022.
Does Dual have a post-credit scene?
No. Dual has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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