Split

 

Split 2016

• Director: M Night Shyamalan
• Seen by the director: The Happening, The Village, Sixth Sense
• Based on book: no
• Cast: James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Betty Buckley, Hayley Lu Richardson, Jessica Sula, Izzie Coffey
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• James McAvoy – Filth, Wanted, Atonement, Becoming Jane, Starter for 10, Shakespeare Retold Macbeth, Inside I’m Dancing, Bright Young Things, White Teeth, X-Men
• Betty Buckley – The Happening
• Why? James McAvoy
• Seen: 7 November 2020      

       James McAvoy should never be the bad guy, he’s such a sweetie. But he certainly isn’t a sweetie here, he’s definitely the bad guy. In the first few minutes he kills a guy, kidnaps his daughter and two of her classmates and locks them up.

       He’s very, very creepy.

       He’s also charming and artistic.

       He’s also a woman. And a little kid. And more than 20 others.

       His psychiatrist (Buckley) believes that he and other DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) patients are the key to what we regard as supernatural.

       It’s grim and suspenseful and McAvoy with his skill at subtle facial expressions is convincingly in all the identities. It continues in a sequel which we also have on DVD.

       I like the film, but it loses ½ * because these three girls, in captivity for days, have clean hair and impeccable make-up. Why do film makers do that?

      3½ * of 5