Intense and original

Rating: 7/10 (25 January 2019)

(I watched this in 2018)
I don't even know what to rate this. I just finished watching it and feel like it's the type of film that will stay with me for many days afterwards. That final scene had me yelling out loud in excitement!
It is the most "M. Night Shyamalan" film in years, so I can definitely see why people are describing this as a return to form. The complex spattering of themes throughout and bigger-life-picture vibe was certainly there too. Killer script and writing which is refreshing at a time when too many movies are becoming mundane or lazy.
It also worked as good as any other thriller/horror out there. I wouldn't even know what genre to put this in - I don't think M. Night Shyamalan films belong in any concrete genre. I felt claustrophobic and uneasy watching this the whole time. In that sense, I didn't find it easy watching. But I couldn't look away.
Much of the reason I couldn't look away was due to James McAvoy's career best performance. Seriously - how did this guy not get an Oscar nomination for this?! I've never really seen quite an acting display like it and he clearly loved performing the role(s). One second I would be laughing, the next I would be utterly terrified and getting sweaty palms.
Features the best 'shrink' vs 'patient' scenes since The Sopranos.
While I probably won't re-watch this, I'm still keen to say:
Bring on 2019.