REVIEW: SplitBy Quinn OxleyJanuary 20, 2017Let’s get one thing straight – I’m not into horror movies.
Sure, I’m imbued with that curiosity for the morbid that comes in every human starter pack. But I’m not interested in paying to see a bunch of people die horribly. Not up for it. So it takes a bit more creativity than that to get me to the theater to see a film that falls into such a cate-gory (see what I did there?).
That being said, Split definitely delivers. For the most part.
The story itself – a man with twenty-three distinct identities and sinister intentions kidnaps three young women – is by far the most compelling element of the film, with McAvoy carrying the entirety of the intrigue on his shoulders. His character – or characters, I should say – and their contribution to the conflict make Split well worthwhile.
The tension builds excellently as M. Night creates a fascinating and formidable creature in Kevin (/Patricia/Dennis/Hedwig… etc.). His intense and erratic nature keeps the audience in a state of constant curiosity. We feel as though we’re also being held captive by this strange, terrifying man. McAvoy delivers what must have been an incredibly difficult performance, offering not just different accents, but different consistent mannerisms for each character – and it’s definitely one not to miss.
Some of the other elements of the film, however, were less than entrancing. Anya Taylor-Joy provides an interesting enough Casey, but Betty Buckley is… well, good at reading lines, I can tell. Her performance was a bit more rehearsed and less natural, which made it difficult to care much about her character. The ending – no major spoilers; don’t worry – was a bit of a letdown after such a buildup. It by no means ruins the film, but it’s an ending that just kind of… happens.
This is one film whose trailer I wish hadn’t given away so much. Experiencing the movie with less of an idea what was going to happen would have been remarkable; it’s likely this foreknowledge that makes the conclusion somewhat of a disappointment.
(The final seconds of the film, though, are mind-blowing, especially if you’re a fan of M. Night’s earlier work.)
I’m proud to say that M. Night is definitely on the upswing.
Rating: 7.5/10
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