Split

Rating: 8/10 (30 January 2017)

Alfred Hitchcock has being cited today as the "Master of Suspense". A creative genius and tour de force within Hollywood. With a 50-year legacy under his belt, he inadvertently pioneered the way for filmmakers like M. Night Shyamalan - Although imagine if "Split" was released in 1960, the year of another classic "twist", the year of "Psycho".
See, during the release of "Psycho", Hitchcock made a lot of shocking requests - forcing his crew, and actors into secrecy, creating faking promotional posters citing "heart attacks" upon watching, he even went as far as instructing theater owners not to let people in after the film began, which was strongly enforced. If "Split" had this marketing behind it, it could have potentially become the year's most talked about film, perhaps decade. Although I feel I must say "Split" is truly one of Shyamalan's best in a long time, and certainly movie fans and critics alike will leave the theater "Split" - Pun intended.
Three girls (Anya Taylor-Joy, Haley Lu Richardson, and Jessica Sula) are kidnapped by a man named Kevin (James McAvoy) with dissociative identity disorder, who has 23 prominent personalities, each with peculiar or dangerous idiosyncrasies, who intends to prepare the girls for the arrival of "The Beast".
Anya Taylor-Joy ("The Witch") plays Casey Cooke. Once again captivating in a role that doesn't require much of her. Now I should be honest and say, unlike the other two victims, Casey is strong willed and smart with the choices she makes. But her overall arc is something of a mystery until the final act. Stoic and timid, for the first two acts of the film, her eyes speak volumes, holding her own against McAvoy's Kevin. A creative choice on Shyamalan's part, as Anya plays her with caution, allowing you to perhaps doubt her intentions in the end game.
Haley Lu Richardson ("The Edge of Seventeen" and Jessica Sula ("Recovery Road") portray Claire and Marcia, who unlike Casey, impulsively plot their escape within each scene. Both actresses are fine in their respected roles but like "Marion Crane" in "Psycho", Shyamalan chooses not to flesh them out or focus the story on them.
Betty Buckley ("The Happening") returning for another go-around with Shyamalan playing Dr. Karen Fletcher, a psychologist who attempts to help Kevin. Her devotion and love to her patients, Kevin, in particular, is earnest and loving, as she truly wants nothing more than to help and understand (D.I.D.).
James McAvoy ("X-Men: Apocalypse") as Kevin is perhaps given the best role of his career (If you count "Filth", "Atonement", and "Trance") as the Scottish actor not only manipulates 23 different voices, four whom in particular are fully developed, he vigorously changes and manipulates his body - Distinguishing all 23 personalities, including the arrival of a "24th personality".
Shyamalan who wrote and directed has cited this as one of the hardest films to make in his career. With 2015's "The Visit", Shyamalan has expressed interest in focusing on movies he wants to make, with a smaller budget and shroud of secrecy Shyamalan may be back in his wheelhouse.
Despite the success of the film, it has received backlash and criticism for Shyamalan's beliefs in (D.I.D.) "Split" unlike his previous movies will raise intentional questions, forming more theories for Shyamalan to embrace over time.