Split

M. Night Shyamalan returned to form with this 2017 psychological horror thriller that became a global phenomenon. James McAvoy delivers a career-defining performance as Kevin Wendell Crumb, a man with dissociative identity disorder who kidnaps three teenage girls. The film grossed over $278 million on a modest $9 million budget, marking a major comeback for Shyamalan after a string of critical disappointments.

Shot in just 32 days in Philadelphia, the movie relies on McAvoy's astonishing ability to switch between eight distinct personalities on screen, each with unique physicality and voice. The supporting cast includes Anya Taylor-Joy as the resourceful Casey Cooke and Betty Buckley as Dr. Karen Fletcher, Kevin's psychiatrist who believes DID represents an evolutionary adaptation. The film's claustrophobic bunker setting heightens the tension as the girls struggle to survive.

Split sparked conversations about mental health representation and became the second installment in Shyamalan's Eastrail 177 trilogy, connecting to his 2000 film Unbreakable. The post-credits scene featuring Bruce Willis as David Dunn set up the 2019 sequel Glass. West Dylan Thordson's dissonant score, blending orchestral elements with electronic distortion, mirrors Kevin's fractured psyche.[edit]

Kevin Wendell Crumb lives in Philadelphia and struggles with dissociative identity disorder, hosting 23 distinct personalities. The story begins when Kevin, under the control of the meticulous and obsessive-compulsive personality Dennis, kidnaps three teenage girls: Casey Cooke, Claire Benoit, and Marcia. They wake up in a windowless underground bunker, terrified and confused.

Dr. Karen Fletcher, Kevin's compassionate psychiatrist, has studied his condition for years. She believes DID represents a remarkable evolutionary adaptation, where different personalities can manifest unique physical and physiological traits. She becomes alarmed when Kevin misses their sessions, sensing something wrong.

Inside the bunker, the girls encounter Kevin's various personalities. Dennis is the rigid, controlling figure who abducted them. Patricia is a prim, maternal woman who seems to sympathize yet remains loyal to Dennis's plans. Hedwig is a mischievous, childlike 9-year-old who inadvertently reveals crucial information about their situation. Casey, a quiet and observant loner with a traumatic past, proves resourceful and begins studying the personalities' behaviors, looking for weaknesses and escape routes.

The central conflict revolves around the imminent emergence of a 24th personality known only as The Beast, a terrifying entity that Dennis and Patricia believe will possess superhuman abilities and purge the impure. As Dr. Fletcher investigates Kevin's disappearance, she uncovers evidence that childhood trauma involving his abusive mother triggered the formation of his multiple personalities. Meanwhile, the girls struggle to survive as the personalities vie for control, with Casey's survival instincts and past experiences giving her an unexpected edge. The film builds toward the inevitable arrival of The Beast, who represents both Kevin's ultimate transformation and the girls' greatest threat.[edit]