Good psychological fantasy-horror

Rating: 8/10 (20 March 2020)

Young women are held captive by a man with an extreme psychological disorder than manifests as personalities ranging from a naÃ¯ve child to a near preternatural killer. M. Night Shyamalan's horror-thrillers can be hit-or-miss, but this one is pretty good. James McAvoy is excellent as Kevin Wendell Crumb and his various personalities, as are the young women that he imprisons. The story moves along well and the climax, while obviously setting up a sequel ('Glass', 2019), is satisfying. The depiction of dissociative identity disorder (DID) had been criticised as unrealistic but ultimately the film is a fantasy, playing with the idea that Crumb's alternate personalities are actually biologically independent entities, including one with paranormal abilities. All in all, a fast moving, well made, and entertaining horror-lite film.