Review of Glass (2019) by Rebecca31 — 25 Jan 2019

Just take a moment to think about the fact that M. Night Shyamalan set up a more successful film Universe than the dead on arrival Dark Universe. I'm sure none of you actually wrote to M. Night requesting a sequel to Split/Unbreakable but if films aren't part of some franchise anymore will anyone even bother seeing them? So here we are anyway. The third film in the M. Night Universe, well that is until he decides The Sixth Sense fits into this mess somehow. M. Night is no fool, most of his films (not you Lady in the Water) make a huge amount of money no matter what you think of them. In today's climate superhero movies and horrors are nearly always a sure thing when it comes to financial success so why not combine the genres and see what you get, so we've gotten Glass. A film somewhere in the area of better than The Happening but not as good as Split. But what does it matter what I think of it, or what anyone thinks of it? Glass has only been in cinemas a week and it has already made five times its production budget and you just know this isn't the last we've seen of the M. Night Cinematic Universe. For those of you who do want to know what I thought of it, please continue to read because in case you couldn't tell I didn't like it.

David Dunn (Bruce Willis) is back from Unbreakable and has adopted his vigilante persona as "The Overseer" a raincoat wearing stalkery superhero who beats up bad guys. He turns his attention to Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy) who is still at large and currently mutilating girls around the town. We also have the return of Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson) cause reasons. Meanwhile Doctor Sarah Paulson apparently specialises in this area of mental illness because why not, sure it's the M. Night Universe and anything is possible. Look closely and you might even see a little cameo from M. Night himself. I don't mind a directors cameo but seriously don't give yourself lines you're not an actor. Leave that to the actual actors. Although the only one doing any real acting in this is McAvoy. He's outdone himself yet again and if you thought Split was impressive then watch him transform into all twenty-four personalities before your eyes. Willis on the other hand doesn't look like he cares at all about this film, it's a look of "give me my damn pay cheque and get on with it." I'm beginning to wonder if we just took him out of the film altogether would it even make a difference. Glass will force you to question the possibility of real life superheroes or is it all just happening in their heads, either way don't worry because the movie will stop and explain everything to you every few minutes, and I do mean every few minutes. Split was guilty of this unnecessary plotsplaining only it's somehow worse in Glass. The story felt like it was trying to be more impressive than it was, and although it did try to bring the superhero genre in a new direction I found myself getting repeatedly bored and the only thing that was keeping my attention was McAvoy's performance. As with Split, he is carrying the film and he is honestly the only reason you should give Glass the time of day. Not recommended unless you really have nothing better to do with your time.