Shyamalan’s “Split” is An Unscary Mess
As the trailers for M. Night Shyamalan’s latest horror flick imply, Split’s main antagonist suffers from a disorder that allows many personalities to exist within his mind. Unfortunately the movie suffers from a similar affliction, combining imperiled teenagers, murder, a dash of cannibalism, an absurd plot, and child sex abuse into one godawful mess.
Worst of all the film isn’t even scary. In fact it’s actually pretty boring, largely due to atrocious pacing. Large stretches take place in an elderly psychiatrist’s airy, book-filled office where nothing remotely frightening or important takes place. We really didn’t need any of that dull exposition about the antagonist’s mental illness. James McAvoy does a pretty decent job as the villain, so the film should have allowed the acting to guide the audience with minimal explanation. The unnecessary attempt to ground the film in scientific mumbo jumbo falls flat anyway because the plot is so unbelievable in that context.
“I will bore you to death. Be scared. Be very scared”With the exception of main protagonist Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy), the kidnapped teenage girls are little more than laughable stereotypes. I can’t even applaud the effort to give Casey a character and personality. Did the movie really need those flashbacks of the sexual abuse that she suffered as a child? The gimmick is tasteless and only marginally important to the plot.
The idea of a character with 23 personalities in one body certainly sounds like the basis for an interesting story. McAvoy pulls off his character(s) quite convincingly, so I’ll give the movie a bit of credit for executing well on this aspect. I don’t think the concept really works as a horror story, though. Split’s sheer monotony really makes me wish I waited a bit longer for another film after discovering that my first choice was sold out. If your movie buddy suggests this flick, be sure to make like a banana and…split.
