The director of “Split”, M. Night Shyamalan, always has a plot twist in his movies, no matter if they work or not. This movie was not an exception to that rule, but only avid fans of Shyamalan would see it.

“Split” explores Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), what causes DID and adds the unleashing of a 24th personality called “The Beast.” “Split” is a thematic sequel to Shyamalan’s 2000 film, “Unbreakable”.

The film, released Jan. 20, tells the story of a man named Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy) who has 23 different personalities. He kidnaps three girls, Casey Cooke (Anya Taylor-Joy), Claire Benoit (Haley Lu Richardson), and Marcia (Jessica Sula). Kevin, more likely his other personalities, have daily sessions with his psychologist, Dr. Karen Fletcher (Betty Buckley). She believes DID is a reflection of the brain potential rather than a disability.  

The viewer sees Kevin’s different personalities as he interacts with the three girls. Some are women, some are men and at least one is a child. McAvoy plays Kevin and his different personalities believably and presents each personality as his or her own person with different experiences. McAvoy does this by presenting each personality differently with posture, facial expressions, voice and physical quirks.

DID is caused by a traumatic event during early childhood, such as different types of abuse. The personalities are a way to cope during harsh life dilemmas. James McAvoy, who portrays Kevin, accurately depicts someone diagnosed with DID at a young age through childhood trauma. His different personalities are a coping mechanism for him as he goes through traumatic childhood events. People with DID have the tendency toward self-sabotage, which is where the movie’s portrayal of DID is incorrect. “Split” is a thriller having a person with DID portrayed as the villain.

Taylor-Joy, an upcoming actress best known for “The Witch,” shows off her talents by conveying emotions with her brown eyes. Casey Cooke, one of the three girls, begins to become the leader of the kidnapped girls and is the only one who is willing to talk to Kevin.

Shyamalan uses the soundtrack effectively to increase tension and help the viewer feel what the girls were feeling at the moment. The loud bass makes the viewer feel increasingly anxious as they wait for something to happen.

Shyamalan effectively uses camera angles to make it seem as if the audience is there with the characters witnessing the story happen from start to finish. The film delivers effective thrills, but the depiction of DID lacks accuracy and Shyamalan’s awaited twist seems like just a set-up for another movie.

“Split:” 4/5