A man with a personality disorder abducts three young girls. In order to stay alive they must try to befriend some of the personalities and learn from them what horrors are in store for them, if they wish to find an escape.
Split was a surprise. From the trailer it was portrayed as a psychological thriller, conceivably even a high intensity horror, but really Director M. Night Shymalan, focuses on studying the details of an interesting and disturbed character. The actual plot seems to be pushed aside so the characterisation can take centre stage. The film is highly character-driven, although the most significant characters are all the different personalities and one of the abductees, Casey.
The main focus of the film is to show off the different personalities of the lead character Kevin (James McAvoy). This perhaps is why the film is quite slow in places. When there is not a need to show a new personality the plot can be lacking, even with Casey’s (Anya Taylor-Joy) back story running alongside the kidnapping. There is also a back-story of Kevin from the sessions with his psychiatrist, but these could have been developed more to add depth to the story, as the true extent to Kevin’s past is never fully revealed.
From the beginning the film is intense, with an excessive use of close-ups but also an interesting use of staircases and mirrors and many other visual metaphors to signify Kevin’s disturbed mind, although we soon learn it is personalities: Denis and Patricia, in which we should be afraid. There is a lot of interesting camera-work used, which again develops the understanding of which character we are seeing and their view on the world. Even how the film is shot focuses purely on the characterisation of Kevin’s personalities. Whether it’s the straight lines when OCD Patricia is in control or side-ways angles when young Hedwig is in the spotlight, this is clearly the main feature of the film.
James McAvoy from the start steals the show; his performance throughout split is effortless. His transformation between personalities is flawless, as soon as he moves his face or body; it is clear which personality he is portraying. At the start there are costumes to help suggest the different identities but towards the end of the film, the changes are purely based on McAvoy’s performance through his facial features, body language and speech. We do not see all twenty-three personalities in the film, but those that are conveyed provide both the thriller, horror and humour elements to the film.
McAvoy’s portrayal of 9-year old Hedwig is sure to make anyone laugh, and fashion-fanatic and incredibly camp Barry is also a lovable personality. Although there are also hidden darker identities too, which is what leads the film to its perhaps supernatural ending. Even though the plot is stilted and un-interesting at times, the ending adds a sincere element to the film. With McAvoy’s character believing “the broken are more evolved” and that “we are what we believe we are” suggests, that M. Night Shymalan is trying to add a sense of reality, in suggesting this is still just a man with an extreme psychological disturbance, but he is still human.
Overall the film was an interesting watch, not what I was expecting and a terrific performance from James McAvoy. A very emotionally and physically challenging role for any actor, yet he succeeded. The plot seemed irrelevant and boring at times, which made the pace slow even considering the high intensity of the film. Nevertheless, definitely one to watch; to explore this idea of different personalities, and for the brilliant acting, but not one I would watch over and over again.
6/10
Image: IMDB
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