Split

Movie Name: Split
Year of Release: 2016

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Stars: James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Betty Buckley, Haley Lu Richardson, Jessica Sula, Brad William Henke, Sebastian Arcelus, Izzie Coffey, Neal Huff, Bruce Willis

Genre: Thriller

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6
View Trailer Here

Synopsis:

Following the low budget "The Visit", director M. Night Shyamalan is back, with another low budget feature, this time around much more successful in all aspects. The film follows the story of Kevin, a young man with an ailment that results in him having multiple personalities (23 to be more precise). Kevin, under the guise of one of his domineering personalities, kidnaps three teenagers, and takes them to an underground bunker of unknown location. Of the three girls, Casey is the one who handles the situation with coldness, since she herself has had a past of abuse. Kevin's therapist, Dr. Fletcher, suspects something is wrong, and tries to aid him overcome his issues. All the while the girls are desperately trying to escape, without realizing that some personalities hidden within Kevin haven't surfaced yet.
"Split" is a film that marks a return for form for the director, after some dismal choices, that were both critically and commercially unsuccessful. The film creates a sense of claustrophobia that takes hold of the story and main characters, as they start to realize that their kidnapper has motivations that are beyond their comprehension. The film feels and looks impeccable and polished, and features engaging performances from James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy and the always reliable Betty Buckley. It's a film that showcases the director's traditional trademark, of slowly building tension, and for once, it works on quite a few fronts. An interesting effort from an inconsistent director.