A-Z of Horror: D is for Doppelganger

Is there another identical version of you out there?

We have all, almost certainly, at some point in our life been told that we look like someone. Usually, it is a celebrity that you have some passing resemblance to, but what if it was an identical copy of yourself. Would you feel as comfortable as you do when compared to a famous actor, or would you feel a sense of discomfort, wondering what your doppelganger is up to, and why? What is it that makes the idea of an exact replica of you or someone you love to seem so off?

The Total Loss of Identity

For me, I think it all begins with the idea that we somehow lose our identity. Just think of how much time you would spend thinking about what your doppelganger is up to out in the world’ Would it come across you friends and act like you, going the Single White Female route and essentially trying to replace you. We are all unique in our own way, so the idea that there is an exact copy of you out there feels like a loss of identity. Worse yet is the prospect that your friends and loved ones might no longer believe that you are you, and that you are somehow the intruder.

The Lore of Doppelgangers

While doppelgangers are now more commonly used as plot devices in scary books and movies, there is also a mythology that dates back to the time before media became a thing. Back in the day, the belief was that if you saw your doppelganger, it was a sign of impending death. That is not necessarily a common piece of knowledge, but perhaps it is still somehow ingrained in our DNA. It may also explain how the whole uncanny valley thing makes us all so uncomfortable. You see something that looks real but isn’t, making you question your senses.

My Personal Experience With Doppelgangers

A few years ago, my wife and I were enjoying a drink at a local bar. A group of people at a neighboring table kept looking over at me and whispering among themselves. Not one to put up with that type of behavior, I was about to speak up. I think it was clear that I was getting annoyed, so one of the women from that table came over and explained what was going on. She showed me a picture of a friend who had recently passed, and how I looked just like him. While it was definitely not in doppelganger territory, the likeness was enough that I could see why they kept looking at me.

A Book and a Movie to Check Out

I always like to toss in a couple of options for you guys that fits the theme for the week. This time around, I would suggest The Outsider by Stephen King as my book pick, while I would go with Us as my movie pick.

Hope to see you all again for the next A-Z of Horror, which will be E is for Eldritch Horror.