EC Comics: Death’s Double Cross – Twins of Paranoia

Death’s Double Cross was the second tale published in Crime SuspenStories #1.  Although this isn’t Wally Wood’s finest work, he and Al Feldstein achieved a tantalizing story filled with paranoia and murder.  Told from Ruth’s point of view, we learn she’s no longer happy with her marriage.  Even though her husband John provides financial security, she’d rather be with the love of her life – John’s adventurous identical twin brother Ronnie.  Since Ronnie and Ruth have mutual feelings for each other, they agree to kill John so they can finally be together and attain his wealth.

Weeks after John’s “mysterious” drowning, Ronnie marries Ruth and their relationship is filled with hot dates and joyful bliss.   But as time goes by, Ronnie drifts away from being his fun-loving self.  However, it’s not the lack of affection that keeps Ruth awake each night - Instead, it’s the occasional and “accidental” bank vault falling from the sky! Has Ronnie grown to be just as boring as John?  Or did the wrong twin drown?


So it’s fairly obvious this story can be paired with a movie showcasing twins.  However, let’s up the ante and not feature just twins, but Siamese twins!  In Brian DePalma’s SISTERS (1972), Grace (Jennifer Salt) is a smalltime reporter who witnesses a murder from the apartment across the street.  Grace sends authorities to the crimescene, but the door isn’t welcomed by a crazy woman – Instead they’re greeted by the delightful actress Danielle (Margo Kidder).  The police search the apartment but find no evidence of a dead body.  Since Grace's reporter instincts cannot drop the case, she ultimately discovers Danielle’s dirty little secret:  Danielle was surgically detached from her Siamese twin sister Dominique.  Even though Dominique died at the operating table, is she somehow still causing trouble for the lovely Danielle?

DePalma really cuts his teeth with SISTERS.  He films an extended split screen sequence that could be one of  his greatest:  In one panel we see Grace leading authorities to the crime scene.  In the other, we see Danielle trying to hide any evidence of a dead body.  This simultaneous action brings so much suspense, we’re not sure if we should be rooting for Grace or Danielle.  

Along with the visual tension, DePalma brings a sense of paranoia.  Since Danielle is no longer affixed to Dominique, her equilibrium has been lost.  Danielle compensates for this deficiency in a Jekyll and Hyde manner.  Especially in times of intimacy, the innocent Danielle is easily switched into the jealous and murderous Dominique.  Even though Danielle constantly fears transformation, these violent outbursts are necessary in order to maintain inner balance.  In the EC Comics tale, paranoia is still prevalent, but it manifests from a different perspective.  It’s not the twins who live with distrust, but Ruth, the Femme Fatale who helped scheme the murder of John.  However, it’s not her conscience that keeps Ruth living in dread.  Instead she’s terrified of being murdered herself since she’s uncertain if the wrong twin emerged from the bottom of the lake.