Horde Mode

Rating: 7/10 (17 January 2019)

Although we didn't know it on first viewing, "Split" is the second film in Shaymalan's "Unbreakable" trilogy, due to be concluded in early 2019 with "Glass". In preparation for that I rewatched "Split" and found an entertaining film, that's undermined slightly by the necessarily low key ending.
Three young women; Casey (Anna Taylor-Joy), Claire (Haley Lu-Richardson) and Marcia (Jessica Sula) are kidnapped by Kevin (James McAvoy) a man with a split personality disorder whose lost control to some of the other 23 distinct personalities that live within him. Though some of those personalities are trying to get help, others are preparing for the arrival of a monstrous 24th personality.
What "Split" does have, unquestionably is a wonderful central performance from James McAvoy. He plays the principle personalities really well, so you're never not sure which personality you're seeing (apart from when the story needs it). The setup first two thirds of the movie is really solid too. It's mostly scientific justification mixed with some classic (if familiar) horror movie set up and execution. Mixed into this is some unsettling, if necessary, back story for Casey's character - explaining why she seems much more capable in the girl's predicament that Claire and Marcia. I also enjoyed the direction. Shyamalan is a much more gifted filmmaker visually beyond the "twist master" clichÃ© that he's become known for. (I know "Avatar: The Last Airbender" was a bit of a trainwreck, but I'd like to see him take a few more gigs that he hasn't also written in the future).
Though this list of negatives might seem more comprehensive, I'd like to reiterate that overall I enjoyed it. The ending though is a bit underwhelming. I was not lost by the "other worldly" aspect of it, that was fine, it's more that the film doesn't build towards a real climax. Presumably they had half an eye on the sequel but still, a more contrived escape attempt, or a rescue wouldn't have undermined the characters and made for a better finale. I also felt that the gradual undressing of the girls across the movie was a bit unnecessary - it didn't play out in the story at all, and felt it was more to pacify a studio head wary about their bottom line. I was also going to criticise the heavy handed portrayal of the gay personality "Barry" but given time to consider it, it perhaps makes more sense given the reveal regarding that character that we get towards the end.
There's elements of a great movie in "Split" and if it was just slightly more concerned with its own plot it might have made it. Instead we've a solid character driven thriller that, if nothing else, has built my anticipation for "Glass".