Rent Split (2016)

Top notch acting from McAvoy - Split review by SP

Worth watching just to see his acting skills. The story is also pretty good and potentially one of the last few that will keep you on the edge of the sofa

A very silly B-movie horror which is not as clever as it thinks... - Split review by PV

Well, I had no idea what to expect re this movie. The writer/director shot to fame with the Sixth Sense and hasn't really made a very good movie since, so I wasn't expecting much.

It's basically a horror film which uses the VERY old device of multiple personalities in one person to create twists and turns. Younger viewers will think this all new, but it's as old as the hills.

And want to watch a masterclass on mental illness - watch Silence of the Lambs.

This is a horror flick which will appeal to teenagers mostly. It bored me and I was laughing at the hokum plot too.

Some plot lines were utterly predictable too.

But a B-movie to eat popcorn by and the main actor pulls it all off despite the dire script.

2 stars.

Spoilers follow ... - Split review by NP

Two smartphone distracted girls and their ‘weird’ friend are kidnapped by an unknown assailant who carries out the action without any emotion whatsoever.

‘Barry’ is a model employee. He’s been ill, but is better now. Doctor Fletcher (Betty Buckley) says this. We learn of ‘Barry’s’ disorder because Fletcher is trying to widen awareness for his condition. The information about what is known as Dissociative Identity Disorder is staggered throughout, at length, and her scenes are interspersed with ‘Barry’ and his other personalities presenting themselves to his three prisoners. One of these is an upper-class woman called ‘Patricia’, another is an irritant called ‘Hedwig’, another is a nuisance called ‘Dennis’ (who likes to watch girls dance naked). In reality, his name is Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), and he has 23 personalities.

Despite claims that, for example, if one personality is a weight-lifter he possesses the strength of a weight-lifter whilst other shared personalities do not, McAvey doesn’t have the physical presence to portray anyone that couldn’t just be over-powered by the three girls – or even just one of them (with a more sustained battering than just hitting him once and then turning their back on him, something that happens more than once). Despite the theatrical rolling eyes, the lisp, the change of clothes, he simply isn’t frightening. His endless talking about himself makes it clear that his characters are a lot more interesting to him than to the audience – or at least, this member of it. I can appreciate a committed performance, but sadly he leaves me cold.

Perhaps to balance out Kevin’s multiple characteristics, the three girls have only one personality between them. Being the allegedly ‘weird’ one of the trio, it is Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy, who had been so good in 2015's 'The Witch') to whom ‘Dennis’ is attracted, because of course weirdness is an elite exclusive club that joins every outsider together, provided you’re pretty enough (‘the broken are the more evolved,’ apparently). Luckily for flesh fans, one of Kevin’s personalities suffers from OCD, necessitating the young captives to remove much of their ‘dirty’ clothing. Another box ticked.

There have been accusations that ‘Split’ is offensive to sufferers of mental health disorders. In an age where being offended is a competitive sport, presumably any piece of fiction involving death, for instance, is offensive to anyone who has ever suffered bereavement and therefore ‘shouldn’t be allowed’. This is a point of view that stifles creativity, fiction, drama and/or many levels of art. That is not the problem with ‘Split’ in my view. It is an idea that is ripe with potential but simply stretched out very thinly over almost two hours with very little incident. In fact, the kidnapping of three girls is the only incident. Endless scenes of talking about ‘Barry’s’ condition isn’t entertaining, frightening or effecting. It very quickly becomes dull and stays that way.

Director M. Night Shyamalan had a great success with ‘The Sixth Sense’ in 1999, especially its twist ending. Subsequently, all his films have ended with a similar surprise, each one less effective than the last. If you make it to the end of this, there is a revelation that (SPOILERS) Kevin’s affliction appears to be supernatural. ‘The Beast’ is physically bulkier than his other personalities, can hop from wall to wall and is impervious to bullets. This ends with a reference to Shyamalan’s ‘Unbreakable’ via a Bruce Willis cameo which pre-supposes you are on familiar terms with that film, which is presumptuous, as this is not billed as a sequel.

You'd be bananas not to give Split a chance... - Split review by Strovey

Split is an intriguing film that has all the ingredients of a film that should not work. Hit and miss director M.Night Shyamalan who seems stuck, at least in the public's mind, as the 'twist ending guy' to such a point that it seems to needlessly dominate every film he makes. A hokey story of twenty-four personalities which for me is problematic as it has never been a proven disorder but nevertheless this is only M. Night Shyamalan film and not a serious documentary so perhaps I should calm down a bit. Top this with the film needing to have a very strong actor to hold it all together you can see how the whole shebang could have been, shall we say, problematic.

Despite this Spilt is a good enough film to keep most viewers watching. Front and centre you have a personal acting favourite of my James McAvoy not acting with his lovely Scottish accent, of which no part of it is whining, but certainly acting convincingly a number of different personalities and with his performance he is the glue that holds it all together. That's not to say the other actors, in particular the young ladies, Anya Taylor-Joy, Hayley Lu Richardson and Jessica, do not hold their own against the impressive Scot but the character Kevin Crumb is the axel on which everything else revolves.

In fact, Split starts out an interesting premise on the split-personality theme and whether any one person or even personality within the victim himself, can overcome the huge mental problems that Kevin has - not entirely based in fact but a very interesting concept that was playing out well.

Shylaman's problem is taking the story off in an unexpected direction, almost a giant twist as it were, and from that point the film is served its divorce papers by reality. This in my opinion is the weakness. That and with this 'twist' as it were, we get a rapid darkening in the events and a big tonal shift which for me ruined the mood of the film and sent it to a place I did not think it deserved.

Split was an okay film, I probably would not watch it again, but neither have I instantly forgotten it. James McAvoy proves that his casting was correct because in what could have been a very showy role that actors love playing he keeps it all on the right side of sensible and you never get the sense he loving every acting part of it 'darling' - it just seems like Kevin has these distinct personalities to me which is as a big a compliment as I can pay the actor.

The young girls who are kidnapped are more problematic for me with Casey Cooke's character played by Anya Taylor-Joy seemingly being the only one worthy of anything other than a passing interest, the talented and attractive Haley Lu Richardson and Jessica Sula both end up screaming and whining in between not escaping from situations that are patently escape-easy.

It is a real shame and nothing that reflects the times we live in now.

Split is fine, I have never been on the bandwagon of constantly knocking Shylaman's films but in this case I was mostly disappointed the longer the film went on. I can't explain why it spoils the story for those that have not seen the film but I did not like the way it ends it could have been an entirely different film about an entirely different thing. Having said this I can see why others would like this film.

In general you will have a good night watching this but it ain't no Sixth Sense that is for sure.

Genuinely creepy - Split review by CP Customer

The 2nd part of the trilogy, this film steps up from Unbreakable. McAvoy gives a truly outstanding performance. At times my daughter was hiding behind the cushion! ?? Will be watching the 3rd part this WE with anticipation ??

Come in number 24 - Split review by NC

McAvoy handles it all really well. Just changes personality switch by a look. Thank goodness, there is no gratuitous un-necessary sex and violence involved, is just McAvoy being weird.

Split - watch it only to see James McAvoy - Split review by MJ

I agree entirely with NP's review (although adding spoilers is mean!). Having enjoyed M Night's past work - 'The Village' I thought was particularly good - you wouldn't be blamed for expecting a certain calibre from him.

Unfortunately I found this effort rather silly and demanded more suspension of disbelief that I was willing to give.

James McAvoy is always watchable however and he gives his all to this as you would expect - he's come a long way down the road of Superstardom sine 'Inside I'm Dancing' - but I would advise everyone to manage their expectations.

Better luck next time M Night!