All in the mind: Split review by Rashid Irani | Hollywood - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

All in the mind: Split review by Rashid Irani

Hindustan Times | ByRashid Irani
Feb 24, 2017 04:31 PM IST

Recalling the work of such masters of the macabre as Alfred Hitchcock and Brian De Palma, Shyamalan devises a whopper of a climactic set piece which see-saws between camp and cool

SPLIT

In the lead role, McAvoy plays a schizophrenic with as many as 23 distinct personalities.
In the lead role, McAvoy plays a schizophrenic with as many as 23 distinct personalities.

Direction: M. Night Shyamalan

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Actors: James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy

Rating: ***½

Of late, M Night ShyamaIan has been dismissed as a has-been auteur, no longer capable of such twisty delights as The Sixth Sense or Signs. The good news is that the micro-budgeted Split proves that the director can still whip up nail-biting tension despite the limited resources at his disposal.

Working within the trappings of the psychological horror genre, Shyamalan right away introduces us to three high-school girls (Hayley Ru Richardon, Jessica Sula and Taylor-Joy) who are abducted from a parking lot and confined to a secluded underground bunker.

Their captor (McAvoy) apparently suffers from dissociative identity disorder. A schizophrenic with as many as 23 distinct personalities, ranging from a nine-year-old child to a prim-and-proper English matriarch, he warns his terrified ‘guests’ about the imminent emergence of personality number 24, whom he nicknames The Beast.

Despite the spirited response of their deceptively docile classmate (Taylor-Joy), the captive trio’s chances of survival are slim. Flashbacks to the braveheart girl’s traumatic childhood experiences are dexterously juxtaposed with her current dilemma.

Shyamalan charts the story of three high-school girls who are abducted from a parking lot and confined to a secluded underground bunker.
Shyamalan charts the story of three high-school girls who are abducted from a parking lot and confined to a secluded underground bunker.

Recalling the work of such masters of the macabre as Alfred Hitchcock and Brian De Palma, Shyamalan devises a whopper of a climactic set piece which see-saws between camp and cool. An uncredited cameo from the star of a couple of his early films indicates the possibility of a sequel.

In the lead role(s), James McAvoy is simply astonishing. Old-timer Betty Buckley is credible as his/their clueless psychiatrist.

Read: Lion movie review: Dev Patel roars in this Oscar-worthy triumph. 5 stars

A stylish spine-chiller, Split marks a welcome return to form for the former wunderkind. Carry on spooking, Mr. Shyamalan.

Watch the trailer for Split here:

Oscars 2024: From Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive Coverage on HT. Click Here

Get more updates from Bollywood, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On