I applaud M. Night Shyamalan for attempting a complex psychological thriller and I'd say that "Split" is among his better efforts. Despite my recommendation, the film is far too uneven and exploits schizophrenia and alternate personalities with a slightly ham-fisted approach. I do not expect a realistic film about alternates and dissociative identity disorder in an alleged horror film environment that incorporates shades of the slasher film variety. I do expect to witness these personalities and whatever traits they share individually but "Split" is meant to scare, to shock and to terrify only. It does succeed at all three.
Three young women are kidnapped in Philadelphia by a meek-looking man with 23 personalities! He keeps the women locked up in a sealed room in an underground tunnel where escape is futile. The crazy lunatic (okay, he's crazy though that is not a medical term) is either named Barry, Dennis or Patricia! One is a studious looking intellectual type, the other is an 8-year-old child and, of course, one is a woman. The alters appear on different days and confront the terrified girls with either calmness, rage or simply wanting to hang out and listen to Kanye West on his stereo! The young women include the introverted Anya Taylor Joy as Casey who tries to reason with this probable serial killer, and we also got Haley Lu Richardson and Jessica Sula though they are not given much to do other than embrace each other, prepare for the worst by trying to break free and run down endless underground tunnels. Casey is the one with potent flashbacks to her less-than-savory uncle which begs the questions - why not just have Casey as the girl protagonist against this DID man whose 24th personality is something less than human and is about to pounce at any moment? This might have made room for introspection and more insights into how his mind works and into Casey's own difficult traumatic background. It is hinted that the man with 24 faces might have had trauma as well.
James McAvoy is a threatening presence with his eyes evoking malice even when he or she is calm. It is a transformative, perplexing and downright creepy performance that should have warranted an Oscar nomination. Not even Ed Norton from "Primal Fear" could convey such lucidity and sense of impending dread as McAvoy does here. He's the main reason to see "Split" and gives the film immense power. Anya Taylor-Joy is an electrifying presence and her last few scenes showcase her own internal wounds. I shan't omit Betty Buckley as the therapist, Dr. Fletcher, who sees something unique and disturbing about her multiple personality patient.
"Split" is not perfectly realized when it comes to McAvoy's alters nor is it an unnerving display of directorial magic from Shyamalan. Having said that, the Nightman has created a strong, almost unforgettable entry in his rather uneven filmmaking oeuvre. The psychology might be muted and a tad exploitative, but the thrills and suspense are not.
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