Review | Film review: Split – James McAvoy stars as creepy mental patient in M. Night Shyamalan’s major return to form
McAvoy plays a mentally ill man with 23 separate personalities who kidnaps three girls and keeps them in his basement in Shyamalan’s compelling film
4/5 stars
In Split, James McAvoy plays Barry, a likeable fashionista. He’s also Hedwig, a nine-year-old boy. And Dennis and Patricia and Orwell and Jade. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if he took on all 23 of the characters swimming around inside Kevin, the luckless sufferer of the multiple personality disorder that he plays.
It’s a sensational performance (or performances) from McAvoy, switching between many of these oddballs as they struggle to become the dominant force inside their host. Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, who hasn’t made a film this compelling since 2002’s Signs, Split is also a co-production with Blumhouse – the company behind Paranormal Activity, The Purge and many of the most effective recent horror films.
It isn’t exactly a horror film, but it flirts with the genre – blending such tropes with elements of the kidnap drama and psychological thriller – after “Dennis”, one of Kevin’s more troubled personalities rises to the surface and captures three teenage girls in a car park.
