You know that feeling of relief when you get off a mechanical ride? That is the type of feeling you get after you experience a mixture of emotions at the same time. It is something similar to what I felt at the end of “SPLIT.”
Written and directed by M. “Night” Shyamalan, this film narrates the story of Kevin Wendell, a mysterious man who suffers severe dissociative identity disorder, and a group of three girls he abducted.
With 23 different personalities within, the antagonist Wendell, played by James McAvoy, portrays a wide range of characters, each unique in behavior, demeanor, age and even gender. I would not disclose more details about them; however, I believe this has been one of McAvoy’s most unique and well-executed performances that I have seen from him.
Throughout the film, we get to see McAvoy’s characters interacting with the girls inside the basement, where he keeps them captive, and with his psychiatrist, Dr. Karen Fletcher (played by Betty Buckley).
Dr. Fletcher plays an important role in the story because she is an expert in the field of identity disorder, and believes that these people could be the key to understanding the power of the mind and the limits of human physiology.
“SPLIT” is one of those films that will keep you entertained from start to end. I like how the pacing never seemed to drag; there are always new pieces of information that unfold and build the complexity of most characters.
Here is my only complaint about the movie; in regard to the three girls, the film focuses primarily on the character of Casey Cooke (played by Anya Taylor-Joy). The audience doesn’t get to know and connect with them enough, and I was not able to care as much as I did for Casey.
The director did an excellent job of developing the complexity of the main characters, and as so, I understand why some others felt bland in comparison.
Even though this could be a tense movie, I found that the director balanced the mood when it was needed. Yes, there are some scenes that made the audience laugh out loud. That level of audience engagement was possible thanks to McAvoy’s excellent performances. It is remarkable the way he could be witty and startling in the next scene.
I had a great time watching this movie and am glad to know that Shyamalan is back in the game, making splendid movies again. If you had doubts about this film or needed a recommendation for something original and thrilling, “SPLIT” is definitely a must watch.
