Why Is Hollywood Obsessed With Doppelgängers? The Allure Of Identity Horror, Explained
The Odyssey (2026) moviegoers were treated to a small but memorable serving of identity horror from the Other Mommy (2026) trailer. Many viewers weren’t expecting a horror trailer to play before a theatrical screening of The Odyssey. Hence, they were even more unprepared for the jump scare partway through the trailer when viewers see the grotesquely contorted doppelgänger of Jessica Chastain’s character.
The jump scare and strategic placement before The Odyssey added to the interest in Other Mommy, but it’s far from the only Hollywood movie tackling the doppelgänger trope. Many of Hollywood’s biggest hits and most anticipated upcoming movies, from Backrooms (2026) to Clayface (2026), feature elements of ‘identity horror’, a trope that dates back to the Golden Age of Hollywood. Use our guide to find out why we’re so drawn to identity horror today and some of our top picks that you should watch now, available to stream on Prime Video, Apple TV, and more!
The Resurgence of Doppelgänger Horror
Doppelgänger horror has a long history in Hollywood, but recently it has enjoyed a resurgence. One of the scariest and most thought-provoking horror movies of the 21st century, Us (2019), put doppelgänger horror at the forefront of cinema. Its terrifying tale of a family confronted by their menacing doppelgängers, known as the Tethered, was both incredibly scary and layered with symbolism, reflecting themes of class inequality.
Movies like It (2017) also explore the doppelgänger trope but in the context of shapeshifters. Dark Matter (2024) demonstrated the overlap of sci-fi and horror in its tale of envious doppelgängers from alternate dimensions. Meanwhile, the trope just keeps evolving, as Backrooms featured doppelgängers through the concept of still life, the universe’s distorted memories of individuals. Whether it's alternate universes, shadowy clones, AI, distorted memories, or alien shapeshifters, the concept of seeing yourself as the face of evil or not being able to tell the difference between the threat and the innocent has proven ripe for Hollywood.
Why We’re So Drawn to Identity Horror
Part of the allure of identity horror comes back to psychology and the uncanny valley phenomenon. When individuals see something that is almost, but not quite, human, it creates feelings of unsettlement and repulsion. The subtle imperfections or wrongness of the being register as a threat, evoking fear. It’s similar to how you’d feel looking at your doppelgänger. As human as your doppelgänger looks, the impossibility of staring at yourself stirs cognitive dissonance and instantly creates feelings of dread and paranoia.
In films like Us or Other Mommy, the impossibility of the doppelgänger’s presence makes you feel tense and anxious, constantly waiting for the threat to act. The thrills and adrenaline induced by the trope are something that horror fans are drawn to. However, the reason why identity horror is specifically trending now goes beyond basic psychology and the uncanny valley effect.
Personally, I think it fits in perfectly with the current climate. Recent years have seen spikes in artificial intelligence development and a global surge in xenophobia. People are more afraid than ever of being replaced or made redundant, which is why movies and shows like It, Other Mommy, and Dark Matter thrive on the premise of replacement. Additionally, at a time when we’re being inundated with rhetoric that the biggest threats are other people, doppelgänger movies like Backrooms and Us are so terrifying because they force us to entertain the idea that the biggest threat is, in fact, ourselves.
The Best Doppelgänger Movies and Shows to Watch Next
For decades, Hollywood has reflected society’s fears in identity horror. As early as 1956, Invasion of the Body Snatchers served as a political allegory for the Red Scare gripping the United States, delving into society’s anxieties of subversion. Although it’s a ‘50s film with a low budget, Invasion of the Body Snatchers remains impactful today, offering a unique blend of sci-fi and horror open to many interpretations and very intriguing to those wanting to parallel the ‘50s atmosphere with contemporary times.
If you’re looking for a cornerstone of identity horror, The Thing (1982) is a must-see. The masterful psychological horror explores a group of researchers infiltrated by a shapeshifting entity. However, the true horror isn’t in the shapeshifter, but in the paranoia and distrust that it stirs, ravishing a community from the inside out.
Another excellent choice would be Denis Villeneuve’s Enemy (2014), a surreal exploration of the subconscious that makes you wonder whether facing a doppelgänger is sometimes preferable to facing yourself. For a TV show with some straight-up jump-scare shapeshifting, It: Welcome to Derry (2025) provides doppelgänger thrills alongside a thought-provoking deep dive into a small town's secret horrors. Lastly, you should also watch Cam (2018) for an underrated psychological thriller that dives deep into AI replacement fears through the lens of a cam girl.
