To meet your own doppelganger is said to be an omen of bad luck, or even an harbinger of death. Being a look-alike or double of a living person, sometimes portrayed as a ghostly or paranormal phenomenon, these creatures are often associated with being evil and mischievous. This concept of alter egos and double spirits have been around throughout human history, handed down through folklore, myths, religious concepts, and traditions, making doppelgangers one of mankind’s oldest bogeyman.

Looking at how films handle this ancient threat, we explore the most terrifying and evil of duplicates that have ever appeared on screen. 7 Evil Doppelgangers in Film.

 

Poltergeist 3 (1988)

The third and final entry in the original Poltergeist film series, sees Carol Anne Freeling sent to stay with her aunt, possible because the family are fed up with all the supernatural shenanigans that happened around the young girl. And they were right, as demonic forces once again try to take  Carol Anne, this time in a huge city skyscraper. The evil entity known as Kane, takes control of all reflections in mirrors, causing the reflections of people to act independently of their physical counterparts. This results in a horrible withered doppler of Carol Anne wandering around the building. This creepy looking creature grabs people through mirrors and doors, generally scary the crap out of unsuspected people just trying to help.

 

Krull (1983)

The wicked 1983 science fantasy swashbuckler Krull was the closest to a Dungeons and Dragons film as anyone in the 80’s could come to. Filled with magic, demons and creatures, it was an epic fantasy film that still as enjoyable to watch now as it was back then. The planet Krull is invaded by an entity known as the “Beast” and his army of futuristic “Slayers”, some of whom can take the form of others becoming evil of duplicates of their victims. When called upon, these creatures eyes turn black and large talons grow out from their fingernails. These evil “spies” can sneak in nice and close and kill without alerting anyone.   

 

Evil Dead

The evil spirits and demons of the Evil Dead franchise, awoken by the Necronomicon, routinely take control of peoples bodies in order to kill the living. These creature can instantly, “snap out of it” looking and sounding human once more, luring unsuspected victims closer. Ash Williams , encounters several Doppler version of himself through the three films, including being accosted through a mirror by his own reflection and even grows an evil duplicate of himself through his shoulder. This “Evil Ash” becomes a general of the Army of Darkness, and leads his undead minions in a huge battle against the human resistance.

 

The Thing (1982)

The entity that haunts the US Antarctica research laboratory, Outpost 31, is a shape-shifting extra-terrestrial that infiltrates the base by impersonating it’s crew. Creating a perfect double, the creature can hide in plain sight and take over other people as they become separated. When discovered, these creatures transform, twisting into horrific amalgamations of its current form. Whilst the alien has very little defences, it’s terrifying appearance is another to instil fear into even the most hardiest of men, and insatiable need for survival is only second to it’s creativity.

 

Black Swan (2010)

Black Swan is a 2010 American psychological horror film that tells the tale of Nina Sayers, a 28-year-old dancer in a New York City ballet company, which is preparing to open its new season with Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Obsessed with winning the role, and suffering from clear psychological issues, Nina starts to suffer from hallucinations. She creates a doppelganger of herself, who is more confidant, passionate and fierce. Winning the lead role and performing on stage, this doppler takes control of Nina’s mind and transforms into a dark and evil looking manifestation of the Black Swan.

 

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

Alien invasions via duplicates is a common theme in sci-fi, and there are plenty of examples of this story being played out in various different parts of the world. In one of the my favorite examples of this story, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978),  the invasion begins in San Francisco (possible the world over) as a race of gelatinous creatures find their way onto earth. where they start to slowly invade, by creating duplicate “pod people” versions of their victims. This alien doppelgangers have all their victims thoughts, memories and mannerisms, and their only major difference is lack of emotions. These doppelgangers quickly take control of political leaders and influential souls, as to grip the cities tightly within its political and governmentally control. The most terrifying things about this version of the story, is how un-stoppable it is. You can fight a person, maybe even an army, but not the city itself.

 

 

Silent Hill (2006)

The 2006 film adaption of the popular video games series Silent Hill, follows a woman named Rose, who takes her adopted daughter Sharon to the town of Silent Hill. Following a car crash, Sharon disappears and Rose tries to track the young girl down. Exploring the foggy town for Sharon, Rose pursues who she thinks is her daughter, but is actually an evil doppelganger called Alessa. To complicate matter even further, Alessa was once a real girl,  who was stigmatised by the religious townspeople for being a bastard and was rapped and beaten by tormentors. Her own mother performed a sacrificial ritual that went wrong and the girl was split into to two halves, Dark Alessa and Sharon, representing good and evil within the girl. Whilst Sharon is kind, and caring, Dark Alessa is corrupt and evil, spreading her pestilence throughout the town.

“Hi Horror Fans – Your not seeing double, these creatures are REAL. For hundreds of years people have feared doppelgangers, and these are 7 great examples of just what they fear. If we missed your favorite, let us know in the comments below. 

Keep Rotten”

 

“Morti” The Mortician