Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
Though Kevin has evidenced 23 personalities to his trusted psychiatrist, Dr. Fletcher, there remains one still submerged who is set to materialize and dominate all the others. Compelled to abduct three teenage girls led by the willful, observant Casey, Kevin reaches a war for survival among all of those contained within him — as well as everyone around him — as the walls between his compartments shatter apart.
Split rides almost entirely on James McAvoy's extraordinary performance cycling through distinct personalities with remarkable physicality and commitment — a genuine acting showcase that elevates the material. The plot is a competent slow-burn thriller with a clever structural conceit around DID, though it leans on some genre contrivances and the 'Beast' reveal strains credibility. Shyamalan's direction is assured and claustrophobic but not visually exceptional. The DID premise gives it some distinctiveness but wasn't wholly fresh territory. The ending is effective as a standalone thriller conclusion, though its real punch is the Unbreakable universe reveal for fans — a clever crowd-pleaser that also somewhat reframes the entire film's genre register.