Split

Prequel: “Unbreakable” (2000)
Sequel: “Glass” (2019)

This story begins at a teenage birthday party for young Hannah (Kim Director). She, along with her friend Claire, is asked, when her dad arrives, to offer Casey a ride back to her home. Reluctantly, Hannah extends the offer and, reluctantly, Casey takes the offer. As the three girls get in the car, they notice a strange man (Kevin) pop into the driver’s seat. Without warning, the girls are sprayed with knockout spray and are abducted.

When the girls wake up, they realize the danger they’re in and try to call for help. The strange man (James McAvoy) appears in their room. He says his name is Dennis (Dennis IS Kevin). Dennis tries to take one of the girls, but with no success. At a second attempt to scream for help, they notice a woman outside their door. They’re saved right? Wrong. She introduces herself as Patricia. The girls come to realize that Kevin is Dennis, Patricia and, later on, a young boy named Hedwick. In other words, they are dealing with someone who with multiple-personality disorder (he, in fact, has 23 separate personalities, trying to take control over the real Kevin).

The girls must make their escape and soon, before they meet Kevin’s final personality… “the Beast.”

Director M. Night Shyamalan is a master of thrillers. For a while, it seemed that Shyamalan had lost his touch in the film industry, with box office disasters such as “Lady in the Water” and “The Village.” Most recently, Shyamalan has once again acquired the title of master of thriller with films such as “Devil” and most recently “The Visit.”

Like James Wan, Shyamalan’s technique in producing successful films is to scare at a deeper level than the traditional “who’s-behind-the-corner” act. Rather, Shyamalan often tries to scare the viewer through anticipation and sometimes through means of disturbing the viewer on a psychological level (rarely graphic).

Which leads me to “Split.” Knowing Shyamalan’s previous works, I would have to say this film is his darkest and most DISTURBING to date. I would even go as far as saying this film went too far in the latter category (more about that in the Content section, which I suggest you read with caution). I walked out scratching my head, wondering “Why did he have to take the film THAT far in that direction?” In my opinion, there are some areas that directors should consider off limits.

Sexual Content: Hannah and Claire, and later Casey, are forced by “Patricia” to remove their clothing and are seen in nothing but their bras and panties (and even when Casey is wearing a shirt, we can see through it). The psychiatrist who treats Kevin mentions one of his personalities likes watching young naked girls dance. There are some mating references, as well as another graphic discussion the psychiatrist tells Kevin about an event where girls pulled his hands and made him touch their breasts and then ran away as a joke. The most disturbing of all of this, however, is that during Casey’s flashbacks, it is shown that Casey was molested by her uncle (often), when she was a little girl. We see her scars, and we find out later that her Uncle is now her legal guardian. Another disturbing scene includes Hedwick (aka Kevin) waking up in bed next to Casey (on their sides). Other content includes a nude water painting. One female character is shown having previously “pee-ed herself” to avoid being taken by “Dennis.” We don’t see her do it, but we see her wet skirt after she returns.

Violence: Kevin gets hit in the head by a chair and also wacked in the face. ***SPOILER*** The Beast squeezes and crushes a character’s ribs, killing her. Two characters are seen being eaten by the Beast (we see their internals organs briefly). ***END SPOILER*** A character is shot in the chest a few times. Casey, as a young girl, is shown aiming a shotgun at her uncle; she does not fire. There are scenes involving blood and someone is stabbed, unsuccessfully.

Language: Vulgarities include one instance of the phrase “mother-f*cker,” “a**” (including the term “dumb-a**”) (3), and “sh*t” (2). Profanities included “h*ll” (2), “d*mn” (1), “Jesus” (1) and “God” (1).

There is a scene where Kevin’s psychiatrist is giving a lecture to a workshop at a college, by means of Skype. She references the idea that perhaps people with multiple personality disorder should not be viewed as “inferior” or “lower” than people who don’t have it, but rather as having (I’m paraphrasing here) “evolved their minds, where they are able to use every part of their brain at the same time; they are, in fact, gifted people.”

Walking out of the theater tonight, I stated to someone that “Split” left a bitter taste in my mouth. While there are some terrific performances by James McAvoy and the girls and the filmmaking quality is fairly good, this film is FAR too disturbing, at times, for a recommendation. It’s DEFINITELY NOT for children, and I even heard some adults in the theater tonight gasp at certain moments. This film could have easily earned a solid R-rating. I urge you to avoid this one.

Violence: Very Heavy / Profanity: Moderate to Heavy / Sex/Nudity: Moderate

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.