Split (dir. M. Night Shyamalan, 2016) – Three girls plan their desperate escape from a man with 23 distinct personalities, before the emergence of his 24th, known as The Beast.
Verdict
If The Visit marks M Night Shyamalan’s probable return to form, Split reassures us that his success was no fluke.
Review
It is a wonder what the human brain can do. Manifold personalities can exist within a single mind, each with individual ideals and purpose. Where a spectator sees awe, the afflicted must see fear and pain. How do you live with the knowledge that your life is not your own?
Despite multiple cases on record, not much about Dissociative Identity Disorder is conclusive. It is no surprise that psychological thrillers have repeatedly exploited it as a subject of horror. When films like Identity and Shelter turn this very real disorder into a motive to madness, it is essential that audiences must understand this, is but fiction.
That being said, Split proves a solid psychological thriller, with more than what the simple story line purports. In Kevin (James McAvoy) and his 23 personalities, psychiatrist Dr Fletcher (Betty Buckley) sees not only truth, but the answer to unlocking the human mind’s full potential.
There are fantastical elements to this seemingly grounded story. Fletcher believes that her patients are capable of altering not only their personalities, but their physique and body chemistry. The broken are the more evolved, the motif recurs. Given few limits to what the mind can conjure, her hypothesis reinvents reality – what is within the mind gains the ability to charge right out of imagination.
James McAvoy lends his proven versatility to this difficult leading role, having shown impressive range in films like The Last King of Scotland and Atonement. Rather than an all-out villain, he portrays with sensitivity a sympathetic man slipping out of control, and in need of help before it is too late.
His efforts end in a losing battle as varying complex personas dominate his body for a voice. A glimpse of hope lies in his impressionable nine-year-old Hedwig, while pure dread follows the impulsive dark nature of Dennis and Patricia.
Danger amplifies when Dennis abducts three girls, intended as sacrificial offerings for a 24th personality, ominously known as The Beast. What is real, and what isn’t? His genuine belief in the creature’s faint existence sustains palpable foreboding. Terror takes shape from the preaching of The Beast’s awakening, its shadows wavering between nightmare and reality for his young victims.
While Claire (Haley Lu Richardson) and Marcia (Jessica Sula) plan their reckless escape, Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy) chooses to observe for a safe route back to the outside world. And there is much more than she lets on. Embodying that sliver of faith towards freedom, she harbours secrets in her childhood that may hold the key to her cell.
In her lasting ordeal, director M Night Shyamalan plays to his strength in building atmospheric terror within the confines of few locations. Powerful performances make for a riveting watch, continuing his success in small-scale thrillers following The Visit.
A tint of discomforting humour never does much to draw away from the serious affair. The result is a decent genre entry and a fantastic comeback, made brilliant with a second, final reveal.
Not much can be said without ruining the fun, although plenty of foreshadowing ensures you will get there before the minutes end. Fans of his earlier films will be pleased as the unveiled connection redefines The Beast’s rising, teasing something bigger in the works.
Great Review
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Thanks for reading!
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Wonderful review. I finished my review last night but I’m still sorting through my feelings on it. The ending literally had me reevaluating my take on it. Plan on seeing it again tomorrow before giving it a final score. The finale gave me a lot to chew on.
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Thank you, Keith! The ending is really quite something; I have high hopes for M Night’s follow-up. Looking forward to your take on the film. 🙂
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This one looks interesting to me, but I’ve been let down so much and so often by M. Night Shyamalan that I can’t help but be wary.
Great review.
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Thank you Jordan! You are right to be wary, given his disastrous track record from Lady in the Water to After Earth. But Split turned out fantastic. Seems like things are starting to pick up since The Visit.
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I haven’t seen this film yet, but I am a huge fan of multiple personality disorder films, especially since I saw the Three Faces of Eve. I even like how it is used in such films as Primal Fear. And, as for me I am always afraid to mention the movie Identity when talking about multiple personality disorder because by saying the illness I think I am giving away the film twist 🙂
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Must have been so much challenging to act that. He’s so great in the X-Men films. M Night had such a strong start.I really liked Unbreakable too.
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He is! I loved McAvoy’s performances in Atonement and The Last King of Scotland too. And it’s thrilling to see M Night making a comeback. Unbreakable was such a unique take on the superhero genre. Thanks for reading, Alex!
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Always an underrated film for me. Yes he’s great in Atonement. Keira always stood out for me but he is brilliant in that for sure.
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Ooooh I am really looking forward to this one – I would watch McAvoy in anything, and this has been pretty well received.
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I am such a huge fan of his films! And he’s hilarious in interviews too. 🙂 What’s your favourite McAvoy movie?
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Filth. Hands down, without a doubt, Filth is the one. How about your favourite? Plus his accent is just amazing!
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He’s phenomenal in Filth! I’m torn between that and Atonement. I love Wanted too, though I know so many people hated it. It’s pure adrenaline!
Agreed 100% on the accent. It’s the Scottish vortex of charm, as Craig Ferguson would call it. 😉
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Yeah Atonement would definitely be a performance of his that’s right up there for me! I thought Wanted was plenty of fun that gets way too much flak. So apt!
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Sonea and my other 13 selves really enjoyed reading your review on this great movie. The direction it took was really well paced without losing the story. It was a great idea for a movie which worked in his favour this time and reminds me of the brilliance with the sixth sense which had the same impact on me.
Sarah thinks she found your blog first..but I’m in the light for the most part..so I’d say I had something to do with that. ☺
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Thanks much Sonea, and you lot in the dark! Focusing on storytelling did work out very well for M Night Shyamalan. I do hope he manages to keep up his streak of brilliant movies. 😀
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