A very gripping film

Rating: 7/10 (1 March 2017)

Split is a very interesting movie. Even though some actors certainly show more experience in the business than others, all of them intertwine very smoothly to create an atmosphere of tension and fear. The story focuses on a man with multiple personalities and 3 girls that he kidnaps and holds hostage. Even though his intentions for them aren't revealed until much later in the movie, the film successfully holds the viewers attention by exploring the backstory of the man and following the attempted escape of the girls. The movie actually focuses on two stories at once; the life of the main teenage character, Casey, and the life of the man. The cinematography shines in conveying the atmosphere and overall mood of the situation. The camera rarely does jump cuts, and instead opts to focus on characters as the scene builds up tension towards an action. My only true gripes with the film are with some of it's characters. James McAvoy's character as the man steals the show and separates itself from the rest of the case, with Anya Taylor-Joy's character as a close second. The other two girls pale in comparison and the viewer will quickly fade them to the background. Some of the other characters range from decent performance, to lackluster. In conclusion, I can safely recommend Split as a rental. Even though it isn't a perfect film, it sure is a gripping one.