Shyamalan strikes back with a psychological scarefest

Rating: 7/10 (19 November 2017)

After a string of box office and critical disasters, it appears M. Night Shyamalan has got his groove back. In 2017, the notorious horror/suspense director from Pennsylvania brought audiences 'Split' - a deeply disturbing psychological thriller that focuses on the human mind - and experience- rather than aliens, ghosts or killer trees.
'Split' revolves around a kidnapping of three teenage girls by a creepy young man who is revealed to suffer from dissociative identity disorder (DID). In fact, 23 personalities reside within the mind of McAvoy's character. It's fair to say an alternative title for 'Split' could be 'The James McAvoy Show,' as the actor demonstrates his breadth in this role. Not every actor could play this role, as he brings out eight of his personalities in their entirety and never misses a beat.
Because his performance is so strong, it's easy to overlook the job done by Anya Taylor-Joy, who is handed the tough task of playing the girl who must remain calm when everything in her being tells her to react differently. However, the audience soon learns to understand why she is the way she is - through a slow reveal of a traumatic childhood experience. This backstory gives her character even more of a reason to succeed in this challenge.
While the cast is the main attraction in 'Split,' it's also worth noting that Shyamalan's signature filming style is back. From unique camera angles to the use of foreshadowing as a technique, it's good to see the director who won over so many fans nearly two decades ago can still deliver. While the film is not scary in a traditional sense, it is incredibly unsettling and hits a nerve with many.
'Split' is not the greatest film out of the Shyamalan collection, but it signals the director is back in the saddle.