Murder, kidnapping, rape, torture. Those are the sadistic sports that amuse Uday Hussein, Saddam’s psychotic son.
Latif Yahia is the Iraqi soldier who finds himself entangled in the same grotesque pastimes when he’s yanked from the battlefield to become Uday’s double (a.k.a. assassination attempt dummy).
Dominic Cooper takes on both personas in the new film The Devil’s Double. The British actor, known for films such as Mamma Mia and The Duchess, is surprisingly convincing in this dual role, even when sharing the screen with himself. Speaking at Sundance about the film earlier this year, Cooper admitted his difficulty coming into the character of Uday, since there was absolutely nothing to like about the man.
Saddam’s elder son is depicted through fast and furious scenes of horror—he pulls schoolgirls from the street, he rapes a bride on her wedding day, and he guns down party guests in a fit of rage. Latif, on the other hand, is distinguished by his calm and caring eyes, eyes that watch the diabolic acts with disgust and are filled with pain when he is forced to participate in the same atrocities.
Latif is told to consider his old self “dead,” with death threats on his family to convince him to do so. Plastic surgery and a pair of dentures complete his transformation into pseudo-Uday, but the farce isn’t fully realized until Latif can master the maniacal smile and high-pitched voice.
As a Hussein, expensive cars, designer clothes and a plethora of women are at Latif’s disposal—as long as Uday hasn’t already laid his claim. Unfortunately for Latif, it is Uday’s favorite mistress who catches his eye. He develops a relationship with Sarrab, played by French actress Ludivine Sagnier, but the character is unlikable and feels more like the film’s requisite romantic interest than a positive addition to the plot.
The script by Michael Thomas begs for insight into the mind of Latif, but character development and historical details are disregarded in favor of over-the-top action, courtesy of director Lee Tamahori. The film isn’t particularly thought-provoking, though you’ll leave fully convinced that Uday Hussein was the devil in disguise. But you likely knew that before you entered the theater.