Review of Split (2017) by Stellarnomad — 26 Jan 2017

Much ado about nothing. Overreaction is all the rage these days--everything must be the "greatest thing ever" or the "worst thing ever" with little to no room for the middle ground. Shame, because this film falls squarely within that dwindling category for me.

When I first started to hear reviews about this film, words like "shaking" and "greatest ending ever" were thrown around. After watching the film and noticing my interest ebb away as we drew ever closer to the titular "Beast" reveal, the final revelatory connection to an earlier property felt so thin it was almost transparent--the phrase uttered to usher it in, clanging so hard my ears are still ringing.

This film is good but not great, take away the (not really a) twist, and you're left with some solid performances, a handful of locations, and a number of flashbacks - and counselling sessions - that persist in breaking the crafted tension. The acting ranges from solid to James McAvoy; an actor that is obviously relishing the chance to teeter between a small cast of personalities vying for control in his head. The dance number being a particular highlight.

When a film engages and connects, you're willing to overlook the faults. When it doesn't, your mind starts to pick away at the cracks, attempting to figure out why it doesn't work for you. For me, the film overstayed its welcome, dragging through one too many interruptions with a Counsellor touting laughable opinions about damaged individuals superiority. In hindsight, it was an attempt to establish the rules of this universe in which humans can break the physical and mental boundaries constraining the rest of us. It failed to convince, leaving the impression that her colleagues, rather than entertaining her convictions, would be distancing themselves from her in fear of professional ridicule. The script, considering its subject matter, presented as uneven; the visual language surpassing the written language throughout, perhaps limited by its PG classification when dealing with issues like molestation and cannibalism. The story would have benefited from a more focused and consistent tone, stripping away flashbacks; removing or reducing our time with the counsellor; and giving the abductees more time in the spotlight, so I actually cared about them. Anya Taylor-Joy will be one to watch, particularly after a convincing turn in The witch.

Everyone loves a comeback story. I can feel those in the wings wanting desperately to announce that the Shyamalan of old is back. While I'm not interested in adding to a tired cliche, it does appear that playing within the low budget field has re-invigorated his style, and that certainly offers more promise than where he was.