Starring: James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Betty Buckley, Jessica Sula, Haley Lu Richardson
OUR RATING: ★★★★☆
Story: Psychological thriller written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. While the mental divisions of those with dissociative identity disorder have long fascinated and eluded science, it is believed that some can also manifest unique physical attributes for each personality, a cognitive and physiological prism within a single being.
Though Kevin (James McAvoy) has evidenced 23 personalities to his trusted psychiatrist, Dr. Fletcher (Betty Buckley), there remains one still submerged who is set to materialize and dominate all the others. Compelled to abduct three teenage girls led by the willful, observant Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy), Kevin reaches a war for survival among all of those contained within him, as well as everyone around him, as the walls between his compartments shatter apart.
Verdict: Director Shyamalan really proves he’s back on track and showing his skills as an effective director in this great horror/thriller. What starts out as a slow burner with a straightforward enough story turns into a great twist in the final act which leaves you pretty speechless. James McAvoy’s gives one of his best performance in this creepy and disturbing role, and along with him, Anya Taylor-Joy gave an impressive performance conveying a wide range of emotions for her role. It might not be for everyone, but it’s definitely recommended just for the acting and great twist ending.
REVIEWS
Best Quotes (Total Quotes: 31)
[Kevin gets in to the driver’s seat of a car where three girls are waiting]
Claire: Hey! Pardon me, sir, I think you have the wrong car.
[suddenly he turns and sprays mace into her eyes]
[the three girls find themselves locked inside a room in a basement]
Casey: What are we doing here? What the hell is going on?
[Kevin opens the door holding a rifle]
Kevin: I was sent to get you for a reason.
Casey: There’s a flower on the pillows, a flower in the bathroom, like we’re important.
Claire: The only chance we have is if all three of us go crazy on this guy.
[spying through the keyhole they see someone dressed in female clothes]
Casey: Who is that? Maybe she can help us.
Claire: We’re here! Help us!
Marcia: We’re in here!
[the door is unlocked and the girls are horrified to see Kevin enter dressed in woman’s clothes]
Kevin: Don’t worry, he knows what you’re here for. He’s not allowed to touch you. He knows that. He listens to me.
[Kevin speaks in a childish voice]
Kevin: My name’s Hedwig. I have red socks.
Casey: How old are you?
Kevin: Nine.
Kevin: Someone’s coming for you.
Casey: Who’s coming?
Kevin: [to Casey] He’s done awful things to people and he’ll do awful things to you.
Kevin: The Beast.
Casey: Help me get out of her, Hedwig.
[suddenly Kevin grabs her and picks her up]
Casey: Oh, no!
Casey: Hedwig, could you help us?
Kevin: Okay.
[Kevin as Hedwig]
Kevin: I have a window in my room.
Casey: Maybe you can show us.
[he shows Casey the window in his room, which is a drawing of a window he’s stuck on the wall]
Kevin: It’s here. Now it’s closed. Now it’s open.
[he flips the drawing to show a drawing of an open window, Casey looks visibly upset]
Kevin: Did you think it was a real window so you could leave?
Kevin: [to Casey] Are you trying to trick me? I’ll tell on you.
Kevin: Aren’t you the clever one.
Dr. Fletcher: [to Kevin] You’ve emailed for an appointment two days in a row. Tell me what’s going on? Did something happen?
Dr. Fletcher: I’ve never seen a case like this before. Twenty-three identities live in Kevin’s body.
Dr. Fletcher: [to Kevin] Who are you?
Dr. Fletcher: The human brain is the most complex object in the universe.
Dr. Fletcher: An individual with multiple personalities can change their body chemistry with their thoughts.
Dr. Clerque: What will happen when he unlocks the potential of his brain?
Dr. Fletcher: There is no limit to what he can become.
[to Claire and Marcia; referring to Kevin’s split personalities]
Casey: The only way we’re getting out of here is if one of them decides to let us out.
[after finding a walkie-talkie]
Casey: There’s a man here, he abducted us and he’s going to kill me!
Casey: We’re meant for something, something horrible.
Kevin: Tonight is a sacred night. You will be in the presence of something greater. The world will understand now. The beast is real.
Dennis: You like to make fun of us, but we are more powerful than you think.
Dennis: The Beast is a sentient creature who represents the highest form of humans’ evolution. He believes the time of ordinary humanity is over. I hope this makes you feel calm. You will be in the presence of something greater. I was going to ask for your last shirt, but I won’t. Because tonight is a sacred night. It’s almost over.
Dr. Fletcher: There must be limits to what a human being can become.
The Beast: We are glorious! We will no longer be afraid. Only through pain can you achieve your greatness! The impure are the untouched, the unburned, the unslain. Those who have not been torn have no value in themselves and no place in this world! They are asleep!
The Beast: You are different from the rest. Your heart is pure! Rejoice! The broken are the more evolved. Rejoice.
The Beast: We are what we believe we are.
Hedwig: Holy shit, this is so cool. They are gonna believe we exist now, right?
Dennis: They are gonna have to.
Hedwig: So, what do we do now?
[referring to The Beast]
Patricia: We trust in him. He’ll protect us. Look at what he can do. Let him show the world how powerful we can be.
[last lines]
Diner Patron: This is like that crazy guy in the wheelchair that they put away fifteen years ago. And they gave him a funny name, too. What was it?
David Dunn: Mr. Glass.
Diner Patron: Oh, yeah.
Total Quotes: 31
Trailers:
I just got home from watching “SPLIT” starring James McAvoy, written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan and if I had to break this film down to one word only ‘spellbound’ comes to mind. This is a must see film. Once again, James McAvoy delivers a dynamic performance. His characters, plural, are a mesmerizing cacophony of acting genius. An Academy Award performance that will bring the audience to the edge of their seats and then recoil in sheer wonderment and fear all at once. Truly sublime.
Anya Taylor-Joy’s performance was of a magnitude that mere words couldn’t possibly give justice. This young lady fills your heart as much as Mr. McAvoy’s performance fills your mind and the two together invigorate the soul as they light up the screen.
A heart pounding, skin crawling, fearful tour du force that only the dialogue and skilled direction of M. Night Shyamalan could dazzle your thoughts and emotion with creating a remarkable buffet of theatrical excellence that relies on sheer human acting abilities alone. If you want the plasticity of computer generated imagery by way of modern technological advances that only appeals to the superficiality of sight leaving your mind and soul unfed and hungry, then this film isn’t for you. If you want flesh and blood raw acting, writing and directing talent that will fill your belly, then put SPLIT as number 1 on your to do list.
This film will wrap your mind around aspects of humanity centering on a condition known as ‘dissociative identity disorder’. From the first scene to the last pounding heartbeat, you will be hypnotized and completely captivated by the storyline, dialogue, direction and awesome acting talents of each actor but especially by the performances of James McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joy. I was left spellbound by this film and can’t wait to view it again.
I’m definitely gonna watch that. I’ve already watched and I quite liked Shyamalan’s The Happening, and old one Wide Awake, The Visit (https://putlocker.rip/1814-the-visit-2015.html). To say nothing of The Village and Signs. He’s really great!!!
I just saw it. M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN! YOU NAILED IT! SPLIT – film Shockingly good There are multiple reason why this film should be nominated for Oscar, James McAvoy deserved it (next year award season).
Do you remember the last dialogue by the beast? It goes like the impure are something, do you remember that dialogue?
“Your heart is pure. Rejoice! The broken are the more evolved.”