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2.5/4

“Split” is director M. Night Shyamalan’s latest stab at the film industry, and evidently he has hit the mark with a thriller that leaves audiences constantly second-guessing their expectations. In an age of jumpscares, “Split” is back to the basics with unabashed psychological horror.

Most horror movies deal with one central antagonist—”Split” has several.

Played by James McAvoy, Kevin Crumb suffers from a unique case of Dissociative Identity Disorder that manifests in 23 different minds inhabiting the same person.

At the film’s start, one of Kevin’s identities abducts three teenage girls, one of them being Casey Cooke (Anya Taylor-Joy), the protagonist. Though they’re initially unaware of the reasons for their kidnapping, Kevin’s personalities repeatedly allude to a ritual to bring out a new, 24th personality, ominously dubbed “The Beast”.

Reading all of that, you’d have reason to believe that the whole plot sounds absolutely ridiculous.

And frankly, you’d be right. It’s an over-the-top, sensationalized mess of a story, and that’s what makes it work. Through a combination of Shyamalan’s absurd writing and the actors’ (especially James McAvoy’s) delivery, “Split” rarely loses the audience’s attention.

For all it does right, “Split” has its downfalls. Most glaringly, Shyamalan’s inability to follow “Show, Don’t Tell”: using dialogue to substitute action.

Furthermore, of the advertised 23 personalities, only four or five show up for more than a few seconds—an unrealistic expectation, sure, but it does feel like dishonest marketing.

“Split” is best experienced with your brain set to ‘low’. If you go in wanting an off-the-walls thriller and an exciting story about escape, you’ll get your money’s worth. But, if you’re expecting rich story and thought-out progression, turn back now.