MOVIE REVIEW – Kidnap thriller with a twist (from the master of twists, M. Shyamalan himself): James McAvoy has dissociative identity disorder (or DID in shorter form) with 23 distinct personalities. Shyamalan is back at making excellent movies, with Split, an incredibly thought-provoking and creepy thriller.

In M. Night Shyamalan‘s latest movie, James McAvoy delivers a hugely satisfying performance as Kevin, a man who developed 23 identities to deal with an early childhood trauma. The notion of identity is certainly a fascinating and pervasive one throughout Split, in which Shyamalan doesn’t view Kevin’s controversial disorder as some psychiatrist might: this isn’t a series of personalities that have been chosen and crafted, but actual, separate identities that are absolutely real and fundamental. These people all exist within Kevin; they are a magnified reflection of humanity’s ability to contain multitudes, to hold competing beliefs and feelings, and to access many versions of ourselves when necessary.

We are legion

Between Kevin’s many identities are Barry, an ambitious fashion designer; Hedwig, a mischievous nine-year-old boy; Dennis, a rigidly obsessive-compulsive type who has been misjudged by his peers; and Patricia, an authoritative woman with a deviously “kindly” manner. Dr. Fletcher (Betty Buckley), an older psychiatrist, takes care of Kevin and all of these many identities.

She devoted her life to supporting those with DID and fighting to convince her peers that these patients are not broken, but have achieved some sense of mental and — in some cases — physiological enlightenment because of their trauma.

The trouble starts when the Dennis personality – at the beginning of the movie – kidnaps three teenage girls, led by eccentric Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy). Dennis is scheming with Patricia to use these young women for some strange and degenerate purpose, to serve them somehow to a mysterious 24th identity that may or may not be real.

That identity’s existence is in opposition to everything Dr. Fletcher has fought so hard to defend with her exceptional sense of empathy.

Who DID this?

Movies with the main character having dissociative identity disorder are quite frequent, with the best being still Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. What’s different about Split – besides the obvious fact of 23 personalities instead of just two – is the way McAvoy plays nine of them (we can see only nine of them) in the movie and also the element, that this time around we have two cases of disorder: Kevin and Casey. Kevin and Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy) are two sides of a similar traumatic case. Thanks to Casey’s past she became a stronger, more thoughtful and thoughtful person, while Kevin, with his various identities to evolved to fully-realized people – with some of them terrifying.

Casey’s empathy allows her to interact with Kevin and his identities in ways that are more difficult for her fellow captives, though their participation should not be discounted. Both Haley Lu Richardson and Jessica Sula give fine performances, each representing the various ways in which actual young women might react and think in this particularly terrifying situation.

The acting is strong with this one

James McAvoy already proved himself in several movies, but in Split he surpassed himself. Yes, he “only” plays nine characters instead of 23, but those nine are frighteningly real and different. He sometimes overacts, but that’s on purpose, and it fits in the whole atmosphere of this movie.

Same goes with Anya Taylor-Joy, who gives an extraordinary performance, as the troubled girl who – as shocked as she is in the beginning – gives a fierce fight – both in a mental and physical way to McAvoy’s character.

But the real praise must be given to Shyamalan, who’s finally “back” with this excellent psychological thriller, a true gem after so many failures.

-BadSector-