Split

I watched a movie on Amazon Prime last night called "Split". Let me say first that there was never a dull moment in the film. For the entire duration of the film, 1 hour and 57 minutes, I was either on edge or so pulled in by the characters and what I was learning about them, that I refused to pause the film and get up even to pee. I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you like psychological thrillers, you will probably enjoy "Split".

What's it about? Without giving away too much, it's about a critical time in the life of a man with 23 distinct personalities. Kevin Wendle Crumb (played by James McAvoy) begins to experience lost time. This is because his other personalities, the most malevolent ones, push him and the others out of the way and take over. The psychological term for his condition is Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly called Multiple Personality Disorder.

In the film, one of his personalities kidnaps 3 high school girls while another personality begins to email his psychiatrist for appointments because of the lost time and fear that something awful has happened. Kevin's psychiatrist in the film, Dr Karen Fletcher played by Betty Buckley, sort of guides us through the film and runs into problems toward the end of the movie. The whole thing is a frightening spectacle of what can happen to a person when they have experienced a childhood filled with severe traumatic abuse.

Throughout the film, a new personality is emerging to take over and control the other 23 and bring consistency back to Kevin's life. Unfortunately, the consistency is not a positive development. What emerges is a man that believes humanity can only be pure if they suffer and #24, the Beast, promises to bring that suffering to fruition.

The film is directed by M. Night Shyamalan. I have learned, since watching "Split", that he also directed a film called "Unbreakable" in 2000 starring Samuel Jackson and Bruce Willis. The only reason I researched this was because of the cameo appearance of Bruce Willis at the end of "Split". Apparently the two films are tied together in some strange way and there is a third movie due to come out in 2019 that will bring the two films together along with their characters in a very mind shattering way. The film will be called "Glass".

I have not watched "Unbreakable" yet, but I intend to. If it is even half as entertaining as "Split", I will be pleased and also ready for "Glass".

The acting in "Split" is over the top. Everyone in the film seems extremely skilled. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars and recommend that you watch it.