Synopsis:
This edit aims to improve on the pace of the original in areas where it is unnecessarily slow, as well as remove all reference to the spiders.
Intentions:
Enemy (2013), by Denis Villeneuve, was an interesting film. Slow, calm, and ambiguous. But while I didn't have a big problem with the pace, I couldn't help but notice that there were a lot of shots that served no purpose - in particular in the first act - which seemingly were present only to draw out the film and, in my opinion, should've been left on the cutting room floor. Additionally, I disliked the addition of the spiders, which were not in The Duplicate - the book the film is based on. *Spoilers for Enemy* My interpretation of the story is that the main character is one man having a fantasy, a man who's compartmentalised several aspects of his life into two different people. He's assigned his full time job, his mistress, and his meekness to Adam, and assigned his second job, his wife, and his brasher side to Anthony. The story is about the clash between his two personalities and, ultimately, him choosing his wife over his mistress - hence the death of his brasher actor alter ego along with his mistress at the end. I don't view the spiders as necessary - if anything, they detract (despite providing a good visual and a compelling ending), hence the motivation behind cutting them.
Change List:
Added new intro Opening moved to end Cut scene with woman in heels killing a spider Cut Adam walking out of uni Cut Adam walking between rooms Cut 1st, 2nd & 3rd sex scenes between Adam & Mary Cut Adam leaving uni, buying the film Cut Adam walking between rooms, taking off tie Cut Mary walking between rooms Trimmed 4th sex scene between Adam & Mary, Mary leaving Lowered volume during Adam's dream version of the film he saw Trimmed Adam getting up after dreaming Trimmed end of shot when Adam is watching the film at night Cut Adam getting a laptop charger Trimmed Adam scrolling for Fraser Ash's image Cut Adam clicking on Daniel Saint Claire's page Cut Adam turning back to get his keys Cut shots of phone ringing, Adam looking at it Trimmed shot of Adam driving Shortened Adam getting back into his car after getting the envelope Cut some shots of Adam driving to payphone Cut shot of Adam looking around after getting out of car (before payphone) Shortened Adam walking to payphone Trimmed Helen walking towards Anthony Cut Adam entering classroom Cut Helen arriving on campus Trimmed phone ringing when Anthony calls Adam Cut Anthony "I don't know what you're talking about", Helen "I think you know", as it is referencing the spiders Cut Anthony's spider nightmare, waking up from it Cut shot of Adam walking to the hotel Cut shots of woman walking through corridoor, Adam noticing her (again, seems to relate to spider storyline) Cut shots of Anthony showering, Helen lying down, Anthony staring Trimmed shot of city Cut shot of Anthony sitting at home with his wife after stalking Mary Cut Adam walking into his mother's house Cut massive spider in the city Cut shot of Adam facepalming Rearranged scenes so that Adam visiting his mother comes shortly after his encounter with Anthony, and Anthony delivering his ultimatum to Adam comes immediately after stalking Mary Cut Anthony rehearsing his ultimatum Cut shot of buildings whilst Anthony's rehearsing Trimmed shot of motorbike whilst Anthony's rehearsing Trimmed Anthony looking in the mirror before putting on suit Trimmed shot of Anthony driving Mary Trimmed Adam entering Anthony's building Cut man in elevator telling Adam that he has "to go back". A reference to the spider room from the beginning. (don't mention) Tiny trim on end of shot Cut shot of Adam walking through Anthony's living room Cut Adam opening the fridge. Two mentions of bluberries was enough. Trimmed Adam staring whilst waiting for Helen Cut shot of Adam standing around Cut shot of bedroom before Anthony and Mary enter Trimmed Anthony/Mary sex scene Cut shot of Adam standing around after getting out of bed with Helen Cut shot of Adam sitting around after Mary walks towards the car Lowered volume leading up to and during the car crash Cut zoom on spiderweb after the car crash Cut radio broadcast, closing scene Moved opening to the end. Works suprisingly well, and alters the meaning of the ending Replaced shot of highway during new ending (the mother's voicemail) with shots of Anthony/Adam from the opening spider scene Added new closing credits - rescored with "Delusions" from The Devil All the Time Moved and recut original closing credits to match rescore.
Additional Notes:
Most changes fall under the following: 1. Pace has been tightened in areas where it is unnecessarily slow 2. A number of scenes, lines, and shots I felt were unneeded have been cut 3. All appearance and reference to the spiders has been cut Because the original ending related to the spiders, the ending has also been changed by repurposing an earlier scene.
Other Sources:
Saunder Jurriaans - Delusions - The Devil All the Time (Soundtrack).