Split is an engaging psychological thriller with McAvoy's award winning performance and brilliant cinematography.

Rating: 8/10 (26 February 2017)

Split (2017): M.Night Shyamalan,Indian born Hollywood filmmaker is famous for his critically acclaimed psychological thrillers The Sixth Sense,Unbreakable,The Visit.He is mostly known for his plot twists and his new film Split deals with Dissociative identity disorder.The trailer and the first looks got huge response especially McAvoy's performance is highly anticipated.So how is Split?
Plot: Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), a man with 23 different personalities, abducts three teenage girls Casey (Ana Taylor),Claire (Haley Lu Richardson) and Marcia (Jessica Sula) in his basement for unknown reasons. As Kevin's therapist Dr.Fletcher (Betty Buckley) delves deeper into his mysterious disorder, the girls must find ways to escape before the last and sinister 24th personality The Beast reveals itself.
Plus Points:
1)James McAvoy and Ana Taylor: James McAvoy's stellar award winning performance is the best part of Split.Mc Avoy's brilliant transformation among his personalities is mind blowing.As serious faced Dennis,lady Patricia,9-year old Hedwig,fashion designer Barry and the dangerous Beast,McAvoy put his 100% efforts to make them more believable.Even though we only get to see 8 of the 23 (or is it 24?) multiple personalities, what we are presented with is utterly brilliant.Ana Taylor as Casey gave captivating performance.Her teary eyes in abduction scene are awesome.
2)Screenplay and Direction: Split has non linear screenplay which tells 3 stories Story of Casey in childhood,Barry's visit to psychiatrist,Girls trying to escape from basement.All three are interlinked very well and disturbing.Casey's childhood story is disturbing and Barry's visit to psychiatrist is engaging and tells a lot of points which forms the crux of the story.The escape planning of the girls in basement and their interaction with personalities is scary.Split is Shyamalan's best work after Sixth Sense.He cleverly blended interesting backdrop with sexual abuse and last but not least his infamous Plot Twist is surprising.
3)Cinematography: The scene where Beast emerges in train and runs to the basement proves that Cinematography always plays a key role in scene build up.There are lot of shots in Split which increased the creepiness of the film.
4)Music: Background score is spooky and helped in scene elevation.
Minus Points:
1)Lack of emotion in climax: With such great introduction to Beast,his interaction with Casey seems ordinary.With all such hype we feel bit unsatisfied with such less exciting ending.But do not Worry!The plot twist guarantees that there is going to be a franchise.
So,Split is an engaging psychological thriller with McAvoy's award winning performance and brilliant cinematography.
My rating 7.5/10