A murdered district attorney’s widow and his tenacious mistress join forces to uncover a shadowy conspiracy in Double Life. It all makes little sense with an obvious mystery and melodramatic narrative. The film vacillates from soap opera to tawdry pulp thriller. That said, it surprises with charismatic leads who work well together. They add a critical dose of believability to the female empowerment subplot. Women who should hate each other find a common purpose through grief. Their turn as amateur sleuths is quite a stretch, but you root for them regardless.
Jo Creuzot (Javicia Leslie) watches Mark Setter (Niall Matter) conduct secretive business with a sketchy patron while bartending. Her inquiry into his activities fade as they hit the sheets at her nearby apartment. Jo kisses Mark lovingly when he leaves. Mark makes sure to put on his wedding ring as he drives home. He calls his wife, Sharon (Pascale Hutton), on the way. Mark notices a car following him. The line goes dead.
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Detective Traxler (Carmen Moore) rings Sharon’s doorbell. Her worst fears are realized — Mark was killed in a highly suspicious accident. Jo learns of his fiery fate on the morning news. She’s shocked to learn her boyfriend was married. What else was he hiding that got him killed?
Connecting Through Sorrow
Paramount Global Content Distribution
Sharon notices Jo standing with flowers at Mark’s grave. Jo pretends Mark was just a regular at her bar. She offers to console Sharon over a few drinks, and the pair start to connect through sorrow. Sharon admits to not knowing many people at his funeral. She’s been with Mark since college, but he’d recently grown distant. Sharon asks if Mark ever brought another woman to the bar. A guilty Jo denies ever seeing a dalliance. They’re about to separate when Jo recognizes someone Mark met the night of his death.
Sharon not being instantly suspicious of Jo strains credulity. A strange woman showing up at your murdered husband’s headstone should have rung every alarm. Their initial encounter isn’t realistic, either. It’s absurd to think Sharon couldn’t easily deduce Jo as Mark’s lover. Double Life should have fallen completely off the rails at this point. The exact opposite happens. Sharon and Jo plunge headfirst into danger as their snooping around kicks a hornet’s nest of trouble. The women bond while becoming unlikely allies searching for the truth.
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Leslie, who starred as the CW’s Batwoman in the final two seasons, puts boots to behinds as Jo. Near comical exposition has Jo resplendent with tactical gear and Krav Maga beatdown skills from an Israeli Mossad old flame. Yup, you read that right. Leslie nonetheless nails what should have been ludicrous. She brings brawn and street savvy to the equation.
Javicia Leslie and Pascale Hutton Elevate the Script
It takes two to tango. Hutton, wearing a buttoned-up blouse and pink sweater, isn’t a softie tagging along. Sharon feels genuinely hurt and betrayal, but won’t wallow in misery. She’s compelled to find answers while struggling to process her burgeoning friendship with Jo. Sharon can’t fault Jo for loving her husband when she was also deceived.
You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to sniff out the culprit. Anyone looking for a clever storyline with smart clues will be disappointed. Double Life has significant issues, but casting isn’t one of them. Leslie and Hutton elevate the script. The film can be enjoyed on the strength of their relationship.
Double Life is a production of Lighthouse Pictures and Motion Pictures Association of America Members. It will have a concurrent theatrical and digital release on May 5th, followed by a VOD premiere on May 19th from Paramount Global Content Distribution.
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