Gets Better and Better

Rating: 8/10 (18 January 2017)

One needs to be a fan of James McAvoy to fully enjoy this film which I am not. I also rarely watch films so absorbed with one primary actor or "character(s)" but this one did win me over. First of all the film score matched up well with the scenes adding the right evocation or emotion. It got better and better as the tension increased. The acting of McAvoy is engrossing, there is no doubt about it. The first half can be at times very grating as drama because the characters keep making wrong decisions. This usually puts me off of a film but it got me back during the last 30 minutes. The story and symbolism is reminiscent of "Manhunter" by Michael Mann which was re-made as "Red Dragon." Only this one by Shyamalan added quite an interesting new element which is actually supported by much literature. Some will think it borders on the esoteric but the lines are fuzzy. As far as the naysayers who invalidate MPD or DID there is very convincing data that the physical changes are immediate and not faked having been observed in many young children. The transformations are as real as spontaneous remission.
My only criticism is the moral ambiguity. In the end losses come because of the superior and experienced, nuanced analysis of the sickness instead of immediate and hostile action. The losers were right about what should have been done from the very beginning.