Split is the latest brainchild of celebrated director M. Night Shyamalan; the filmmaker well-known in the industry for producing mainstream films with unusual supernatural storylines, concluded by shocking twists. Other similar movies produced by the acclaimed director include The Sixth Sense, The Visit, and Unbreakable.
A Sharp and Psychological Thriller.
From the get go Split is a high octane, drama-fuelled thrill ride. Within the first ten minutes of the film you meet ‘Dennis’, one of 23 personalities inhabiting the body of Kevin Crumb (James McAvoy), and witness him kidnap three teenage girls, the film’s central plotline. There is no initial drag of background story – the viewer is thrust straight into the middle of the escape plan Marcia (Jessica Sula), Claire (Haley Lu Richardson), and the quiet, shy Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy) are plotting, in an attempt to flee their captor. Kevin is a victim of debated psychological condition ‘dissociative identity disorder’, and as he informs the girls through his varying guises that his dangerous, strongest 24th Personality is about to become unleashed, their desperation to find their freedom only increases.
Varying Characters, but One Outstanding Performance.
McAvoy is mesmerising in his role as Kevin; it was spell-binding watching an actor transform between starkly contrasting personalities ranging from very likable, to extremely detestable. ‘Barry’, who is Kevin’s most prevalent personality, is affable and appears to be a charming and witty person when he takes his turn in the ‘chair’ during Kevin’s meetings with his patient, long-suffering psychiatrist Karen (Betty Buckley). Once back around the kidnapped girls, McAvoy switches in a full circle and alternates between the sound-minded but extremely devious ‘Dennis’, and the naïve, childlike ‘Hedwig’, who claims to be just nine years of age, as well as additional personalities. The role each personality plays in the girls’ plight to escape becomes more central as the film progresses. It is hard to see just how McAvoy’s name hasn’t been mentioned this awards season in terms of the ‘Best Leading Actor’ race.
It could have been very easy to focus the whole movie around the deeply intriguing Kevin, but Split ensures that the other characters are just as much a part of the overall narrative than McAvoy’s character is. Casey, who is initially portrayed as an unhelpful annoyance to Claire and Marcia in the beginning, quickly becomes the courageous hero of the film, then transforms into a key figure due to her interaction with Kevin and his many guises. She’s a thoughtfully written character who in her own right proves to be crucial to the narrative.
A Resonating Messsage.
It has been discussed heavily in the media the manner in which Split represents people with psychological illnesses; and overall the film does justice in portraying Kevin’s illness as a genuine, psychological condition. Whilst the large majority of movies use psychological orientated storylines which negatively stereotype people with the illnesses, Shyamalan incorporates a clever secondary plot, illustrating the tireless, determined work Karen Fletcher does to have dissociative personality disorder recognised amongst psychologists. She always sees the good in Kevin and shows empathy and understanding at the way he naturally is.
VERDICT
Exhilarating all the way through, Split is an engaging thriller, which refuses to take a break, and is edge-of-your-seat material all the way through.
Rating: 8.5/10
Words by Georgia Stephenson.