“Split” (2016) – James McAvoy’s Captivating Horror Classic About Psychotic Killers

Writer/Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Starring: James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy and Haley Lu Richardson

‘A Captivating Horror Classic’

Not many actresses in Hollywood have made movies which people enjoy as much as Anya Taylor-Joy. Since her rise to recognition during the 2000’s. Taylor-Joy has become a feminist icon. Whether it’s mischievous matchmakers, furious road warriors or scary witches, Joy has played many intriguing characters. Arguably, Joy’s strength as an actress is her abilities to convey strong emotions through expressions. An actress with large eyes, Joy has conveyed strong emotions through her expressions in movies with the ability to surprise. Through abilities to portray strong emotions using her expressions, Joy has become a beloved icon that audiences value. An actress which has achieved immense stardom, Joy has turned into a strong symbol of feminism. Throughout her long-lasting career, Joy has appeared in several unforgettable movies that are worth seeing.

I’m a huge fan of Joy and adore all the films she has made in her career. However, “Split” may be my favourite. Ever since its release in 2016, M. Night Shyamalan’s movie has stood the test of time as a horror classic. Packed with breathtaking production-design, strong storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best horror films ever made. At the centre of it all is an extraordinary performance from Anya Taylor-Joy, who embodies a woman that faces the dangers of abduction. Ultimately, what makes “Split” a horror classic is its bold message. Unlike most horror movies, it tackles strong themes that everyone would relate to. It delivers a heartfelt message about childhood trauma which would resonate with everyone. A mesmerizing masterpiece about split personality, there are several strong reasons why “Split” is a fantastic horror film which is definitely worth seeing.

“Split” tells the story of a girl that is abducted by a psychotic killer which suffers from split personality disorder. Anya Taylor-Joy plays Casey Cooke, a brave woman which has hopeful dreams for her future. Casey shares a strong bond with her friends whom she has grown up to treasure. However, Casey’s hope is destroyed when she is abducted by a killer with split personality disorder. Kevin (James McAvoy) is a disturbed killer that has created 23 different personalities. Stuck in a terrifying situation with her two friends, Casey wonders whether it’s possible to escape a frightening situation causing terror. Faced with a terrifying dilemma, Casey wonders whether it’s possible to escape a situation causing trauma. As all odds are clearly stacked against her favour, Casey discovers the dangers faced by people which suffer from the severe case of multiple personality disorder.

M. Night Shyamalan has always had a flair for creating horror movies that scare. Before he directed “Split”, Shyamalan was renowned for his movies in the horror genre. His celebrated film “The Sixth Sense” captured a psychologist forming a strong bond with a child that suffers from trauma. With “Split”, however, Shyamalan constructed his first horror movie about mental disorders. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture barriers faced by individuals which suffer from split personality disorders, but he succeeded. Through bold cinematography, the filmmaker captures the journey of women that seek to escape a killer with split personalities. Visually, the film is a stunning feast for eyes which is as stunning as personalities people materialize. Shyamalan successfully employs point of view shots to capture struggles faced by individuals with split personality disorder. For instance, point of view shots elevate the split personality scene. During this memorable scene, Kevin has a tense change of personality becoming a different person scaring abducted women. One admires point of view shots that capture hardships people that have multiple personality disorder go through. Point of view shots are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” demonstrated, point of view shots enhance commemorated horror movies about shark survival. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Through breathtaking visuals, Shyamalan captures individuals with multiple personalities experiencing obstacles that are terrifying.

Another admirable aspect of “Split” which merits appreciation is the production design. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well made. Shyamalan effectively uses subtle changes in costume design to capture the lives of individuals which suffer from split personality facibg a decline. The costumes play a crucial role throughout the movie capturing dramatic changes in Kevin’s personality. For instance, the costume design elevates the Patricia scene. During this tense scene, Patricia abuses her authority treating women he abducted poorly when they fight back against him. One appreciates costumes capturing the hardships that individuals with split personality go through. Through great costumes, Shyamalan captures frightening hardships individuals with split personalities face. Moreover, the musical score is dazzling. West Dylan Thordson’s music is integral to the success of the movie. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the struggle of mentally unstable killers evoking fear. Through stunning production-design, Shyamalan captures tense hardships faced by individuals suffering split personality that decline.

Storytelling is one of the reasons why “Split” is a captivating classic about split personalities that’s compelling. The film is expertly written, and effectively uses flashbacks to capture the hardships individuals with split personality are facing. Shyamalan’s screenwriting strength is capturing a powerful portrait of mental health through flashbacks. The movie deftly switches back and forth between two timelines: present day scenes of Casey’s struggle being a victim of abduction and flashbacks of her childhood. One admires flashbacks capturing the lives of women that are abducted. Through ingenious flashbacks, Shyamalan created a compelling horror heroine that audiences could relate to. In a genre in which women are often treated as helpless damsels in distress, “Split” stands out an exception. Shyamalan has always had flair for creating strong heroines in his horror films, and “Split” showcased his strengths as a bold screenwriter. Flashbacks are tricky techniques to use in movies. As George Miller’s “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” claimed, flashbacks elevate action blockbusters about dystopian worlds. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Shyamalan captures unstable killers with split personality facing a price to pay.

One appreciates amazing performances.

Anya Taylor-Joy gives one of her best career performances as Casey. Taylor-Joy earned appreciation for portraying witches in classic horror movies. With “Split”, however, she took upon her most emotional role. It isn’t simple to portray a woman abducted by a killer suffering from multiple personalities but she succeeds. This is the actress unlike you’ve ever seen her before: intense, emotional and vulnerable in her most memorable role. Taylor-Joy has often had an aptitude for conveying emotion through her expressions, and “Split” showcased her strengths as an actress. Through spellbinding expressions, she portrays angst, desperation and trauma of a woman that is abducted by a killer with multiple personalities. It’s a superb performance from one of the most commemorated actresses that’s currently working today.

James McAvoy is magnificent as a killer which suffers from split personality disorder causing disaster. It’s not easy to portray a person that suffers from multiple personality disorder. It’s a challenging role that required a certain degree of commitment. However, McAvoy pulled it off successfully. It’s a role that gave the actor an opportunity to showcase his strong commitment towards his craft. With spellbinding expressions, he captures the angst, determination and trauma of a psychotic killer that suffers from multiple personality disorder. McAvoy pulled of a tricky feat of creating various different characters in a movie showcasing his skills as an actor. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the best actors working today.

Finally, “Split” would earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing lives of killers whose personalities become split. Unlike most horror movies, it tackles strong themes ebeyrone will relate to. The film discusses universal themes including identities, mental health and trauma which would resonate with everyone. It delivers a strong message about mental health which would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be fans of the horror genre to admire it. Therefore, “Split” is one of those rare one of a kind horror movies which everyone would adore.

Fans of Anya Taylor-Joy would definitely enjoy “Split” and so will movie-goers seeking intense entertainment. A captivating horror classic, it celebrates an actress that has built a legacy which is iconic.

A captivating portrait of frightening obstacles that individuals suffering from severe split personality disorder struggling to find their true identities are experiencing, it’s a riveting reminder of an actress that has built a lasting legacy earning a huge fan following for her abilities to portray larger-than-life characters which are compelling in unforgettable movies which are definitely without a single doubt worth celebrating.

5/5 stars