And you get to meet 5 of them. (Image Courtesy of: hometheaterforum.com)
Quick Take: Split has the heavy tension and frightening imagery of quality horror coupled with lead acting that makes for a memorable ride. Even with wooden supporting acting and unnecessary expository writing, this is an engrossing experience that is among M. Night Shyamalan's best.
***This is a review of the 2017 thriller and horror movie Split that has not been out of theaters for long with the reader not expected to have seen the movie. There will not be spoilers beyond the basic set-up of the plot.***
No modern director is more often talked about than M. Night Shyamalan, for better and worse. Due to its memorable style behind the camera, he has captured the hearts and minds of many viewers before crushing them with a string of outright terrible films. Most directors with his track record would have faded from attention long ago.
However, Shyamalan has always had the type of talent that is too enticing to ignore. When he is keyed in on a movie, he releases a near-universally praised movie like Sixth Sense. When he does not find the focus, the results is After Earth. Since most of his films fall closer to the second category, it is shocking he still has such name recognition.
Luckily for an viewer, Split is an example of Shyamalan at his best, showcasing his ability to capture the intensity of tight personal thrillers and bring out fantastic performances from his lead performers. Even with a few clear writing mistakes along the way, this is two hours of pure excitement that will likely be rarely matched this year.
As someone who has not devoted themselves to the Shyamalan brand and not much of a horror fan, I had no expectations for this film, following a man with 23 personalities (James McAvoy) who has kidnapped three girls including the mysterious young loner Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy) who takes charge in the midst of the horror.
This was a movie that grabbed me from the first fifteen minutes with pacing that never slacks. Somewhere in-between the poorly defined line that divides thriller and horror, this is an intense and frightening showcase whose story builds to surprising character climaxes without ever over-relying on shock value.
This movie is primarily explored by talking about its leads though who are fantastic. This is a career-best performance from James McAvoy (Wanted) in an actor's dream role as he is asked to play many different characters, sometimes shifting personas midscene with effortless flair. He is frightening and bizarre in the most enticing way.
No modern director is more often talked about than M. Night Shyamalan, for better and worse. Due to its memorable style behind the camera, he has captured the hearts and minds of many viewers before crushing them with a string of outright terrible films. Most directors with his track record would have faded from attention long ago.
However, Shyamalan has always had the type of talent that is too enticing to ignore. When he is keyed in on a movie, he releases a near-universally praised movie like Sixth Sense. When he does not find the focus, the results is After Earth. Since most of his films fall closer to the second category, it is shocking he still has such name recognition.
Luckily for an viewer, Split is an example of Shyamalan at his best, showcasing his ability to capture the intensity of tight personal thrillers and bring out fantastic performances from his lead performers. Even with a few clear writing mistakes along the way, this is two hours of pure excitement that will likely be rarely matched this year.
As someone who has not devoted themselves to the Shyamalan brand and not much of a horror fan, I had no expectations for this film, following a man with 23 personalities (James McAvoy) who has kidnapped three girls including the mysterious young loner Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy) who takes charge in the midst of the horror.
This was a movie that grabbed me from the first fifteen minutes with pacing that never slacks. Somewhere in-between the poorly defined line that divides thriller and horror, this is an intense and frightening showcase whose story builds to surprising character climaxes without ever over-relying on shock value.
This movie is primarily explored by talking about its leads though who are fantastic. This is a career-best performance from James McAvoy (Wanted) in an actor's dream role as he is asked to play many different characters, sometimes shifting personas midscene with effortless flair. He is frightening and bizarre in the most enticing way.
Must be hard to be M. Night Shyamalan having to direct so many actors when you only really care about two. (Image Courtesy of: morbidmovies.com)
This is not to take away from Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch) who has burst onto the scene over the past two years thanks to her ability to carry subtle emotion. She is easy to root for even as the close ups on her feel just a bit off, adding to the creepy air of the movie that McAvoy carries.
The two are fantastic together with chemistry that translates well from role to role that McAvoy plays. They sadly stand out even more due to how wooden the rest of the cast is. The two other kidnapped girls played by Haley Lu Richardson (The Edge of Seventeen) and Jessica Sula (Honeytrap) make no impact at all, and the other adults in the story act like the moving story pieces they are.
Much of this comes down to Shyamalan who seems extremely comfortable with veteran actors, bringing out the best in them, but he cannot bring out basic human emotion in his supporting cast. His eye behind the camera here is fantastic, focused and intensely singular with many shots on one single face.
Paying close attention is always important in Shyamalan's films especially in his best with the signature twists of Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and more. However, with Split, just pay attention for all the details in this film. The cinematography is quite impressive and aids the intensity.
His writing is more hit and miss with the dialogue sometimes just unnecessarily delivered. The overall storytelling is excellent building to some fantastic moments particularly straight scenes with little dialogue. However, almost every scene with McAvoy's character and his psychiatrist Dr. Karen Fletcher (Betty Buckley) feel like exposition poorly devised.
This is a movie that could certainly be better with tighter direction and writing for its lesser actors, but there was not a moment throughout where I was not completely invested. When it was over, I found myself finally remembering to breathe again with the climax truly frightening and incredible in its horror.
The two are fantastic together with chemistry that translates well from role to role that McAvoy plays. They sadly stand out even more due to how wooden the rest of the cast is. The two other kidnapped girls played by Haley Lu Richardson (The Edge of Seventeen) and Jessica Sula (Honeytrap) make no impact at all, and the other adults in the story act like the moving story pieces they are.
Much of this comes down to Shyamalan who seems extremely comfortable with veteran actors, bringing out the best in them, but he cannot bring out basic human emotion in his supporting cast. His eye behind the camera here is fantastic, focused and intensely singular with many shots on one single face.
Paying close attention is always important in Shyamalan's films especially in his best with the signature twists of Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and more. However, with Split, just pay attention for all the details in this film. The cinematography is quite impressive and aids the intensity.
His writing is more hit and miss with the dialogue sometimes just unnecessarily delivered. The overall storytelling is excellent building to some fantastic moments particularly straight scenes with little dialogue. However, almost every scene with McAvoy's character and his psychiatrist Dr. Karen Fletcher (Betty Buckley) feel like exposition poorly devised.
This is a movie that could certainly be better with tighter direction and writing for its lesser actors, but there was not a moment throughout where I was not completely invested. When it was over, I found myself finally remembering to breathe again with the climax truly frightening and incredible in its horror.