The Devil's Double

The Devil's Double tells the fictionalized true story of Latif Yahia, a young Iraqi officer who is unexpectedly tasked with becoming the doppelganger of Uday Hussein's personal bodyguard, but he is instead coerced into impersonating Uday Hussein's doppelganger himself. The film opens in the early 1980s in Baghdad, Iraq, during the reign of Saddam Hussein's rule. Latif Yahia, a humble officer in the Iraqi army, is living a modest life with his wife and child. He is a devoted husband and father, and it seems as though his life is going smoothly. However, his life takes a drastic turn when he is unexpectedly summoned to the Presidential Palace by Saddam Hussein himself. Saddam, impressed by Latif's striking resemblance to Uday Hussein's look-alike, decides to task him with becoming Uday's new personal bodyguard in disguise. Latif is initially hesitant, as he is already married with a family and doesn't see how he can fulfill this new obligation without putting himself and his loved ones in harm's way. However, he eventually decides to take on the role in the hopes that it will grant him and his family a safer and more prosperous life. As Latif begins his new role, he is subjected to a radical transformation, including a change of appearance, speech patterns, and behavior, in order to completely impersonate Uday Hussein's bodyguard. Despite his initial reservations, Latif proves to be an adept and capable double, effortlessly mimicking Uday's mannerisms and speech patterns. However, this new role comes with a steep price: he is forced to bear witness to Uday's brutal and erratic behavior, including instances of torture and rape. As the film progresses, Latif's double life becomes increasingly complex and treacherous. He struggles to maintain his cover by constantly adapting to Uday's erratic mood swings and erratic behavior. Meanwhile, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with the brutalities he witnesses Uday commit, including the torture of an 18-year-old man who he has fallen in love with. Despite the challenges of his double life, Latif becomes increasingly adept at navigating the treacherous world of Uday's entourage. He becomes skilled at anticipating Uday's moods and actions, often preventing violent conflicts by intervening at the last minute. However, his skills as a double also put him at constant risk, as he is frequently called upon to take the fall for Uday's own misdeeds. The film's narrative is interwoven with a series of intense personal encounters between Latif and various characters from Uday's inner circle, including Sadoun, Uday's trusted bodyguard and driver. Through these interactions, Latif begins to form complex relationships with the people he has previously encountered as Uday's double, often blurring the lines between reality and his double life. As tensions escalate between Latif and Uday's entourage, Latif's double life becomes increasingly strained. He is forced to confront the darker aspects of Uday's personality and make difficult choices to protect himself and those around him. Meanwhile, Uday's own grip on reality begins to slip, causing him to lash out violently at those around him. The film builds towards a thrilling and devastating climax, in which Latif's double life is finally exposed. In a chilling sequence of events, Latif is brutally punished for his deception by Uday and his henchmen, forcing him to confront the full extent of the brutal regime he has been living in. Throughout the film, Dominic Cooper delivers a stunning performance as both Latif and Uday, bringing to life the complex and troubled world of Saddam's regime. The film is a gripping and intense portrayal of a pivotal moment in history, one that serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of tyranny and the horrors that can ensue when absolute power is concentrated in the hands of a single individual.