Gather ‘round, kids. I’m so old that I remember going to see The Sixth Sense AND Unbreakable in the theater. I’m so old that I remember thinking, after seeing The Sixth Sense, that M. Night Shyamalan was the next big director, that he would have a career like Steven Spielberg. If anything, Unbreakable solidified that for me – I actually thought (and still think) that Unbreakable is the superior film. Unfortunately, post-Unbreakable, Shyamalan spent much of the following 17 years or so making not-great films and writing flat-out bad scripts. That all sort of changed when he made Split in 2016. The headlines were along the lines of “wow, M. Night still has some good work left in him” and “finally, he’s back to his old form.”
One of the things that made Split work is that it was an undercover sequel to Unbreakable. It was part of the same “universe,” as people discovered at the end. That universe includes “superhero” David Dunn (Bruce Willis) and villain Elijah Price/Mr. Glass (Samuel L. Jackson). Split’s multiple-personality’d villain, played by James McAvoy, exists in the same world. And Shyamalan’s next film underlines that point by putting the three characters in the same film, dealing with each other in what seems like an insane asylum. The trailer for Glass just dropped at Comic Con and it looks… good? Plus, Sarah Paulson is in it!!
I am… really into this. Am I crazy for being into this? You have to understand, Unbreakable came out before comic-book film adaptations took over the movie industry, really. I mean, the Batman franchise was happening, but this was before Marvel and DC really decided to take over. I had high hopes that Unbreakable would signal a more intellectual way to handle the ideas behind comic book tropes and all of that. That didn’t happen. But now? I’m into this. Elijah Price is arguably one of Samuel L. Jackson’s best roles. Bruce Willis is here, reminding us that he actually IS a good actor when he has good material. And James… well, James is the scene-stealer. I’m very interested to see how all of this plays out.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Unbreakable is still one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. I didn’t know about the connection to split until yesterday when the trailer dropped. Is Split any good? Is it worth a watch?
I thought Split was really really good. James is super playing all those characters.
I am excited to see Glass!
James is fantastic in Split. You need to see it.
Couldn’t agree more. Have seen Split several times and gets better each time. Cannot wait for Glass!
Split is scary good! My husband had to get up and “walk the dogs” in the middle of it. He is a scarty cat. He worries because I’m a mental health clinician and there is a bit with one in this movie. Split is one of the best movies (due to its originality and McAvoy’s amazing acting) I’ve seen in quite a while.
I loved Unbreakable, I saw it in the theater too, it was awesome. They called me Mr. Glass!
I have some feelings about Split and I’ve never had the forum to express them, so I’m going to do it here. MILD SPOILERS AHEAD.
****
It’s a fantastic thriller. James McAvoy is amazing. However, there is some pretty graphic stuff around childhood sexual trauma included in the film that I was not expecting. I went in thinking I was going to see a thriller about a man with split personalities, which I did. I had no idea I was also signing up for some very blatant allusions to child rape. My feeling is that there should have been some sort of warning or idea that this was coming before I walked into the theater.
I experienced childhood sexual trauma to a milder degree and walked out of the film feeling drained and emotionally manipulated. I can only imagine how awful it must have been for anyone who’s childhood sexual trauma was more severe, and was extremely concerned about how triggering and retraumatizing the scenes I’m referencing could have been. It absolutely felt emotionally manipulative and like there needed to be some preparation so folks knew what they were getting into and could decide not to see the film if needed. It was a shock to the system.
Thank you @Shambles, I’m so glad you posted this bc I’ve been interested in the story but wondered if the material would be triggering- re: childhood traumas that -not sure if cause is the right word- multiple personalities.
They could have written it as physical abuse, which is still awful of course. Why the need to make it sexual? They showed her scars, and being chronically beaten would have covered that.
Thanks for the mild spoilers. It’s one I have not seen, but I did see Unbreakable. You’re right, some upfront context would have been better and I’ll have to decide whether I’m up for it, or not.
The scene with Bruce’s son adding weights while he bench presses is one of the most iconic scenes I’ve ever seen. It always gives me the feels for some reason.
Unbreakable is indeed one of the best movies ever made and I loved Split. I’m so excited for Glass.
The trailer looks great. I didn’t mind Unbreakable when it first came out. But I loved Split. After seeing Split I resvisited Unbreakable and liked it a lot more. Viewing it as part of a trilogy added another dimension to it. Can’t wait to see Glass.
I would say that The Visit was the first sign that M. Night was back.
Devil. That was my sign.
So excited for this new movie!! Loved unbreakable and split. I squealed when Bruce Willis showed up at the end of split.
I did not know that the screenplay of Devil was developed from a story by M. Night! I liked that movie.
Everything you said, Kaiser!
When Unbreakable came out, it seemed to confuse a lot of people (as you say, this was years before Marvel was a thing cinematically), but I was thrilled! I remember a co-worker and fellow nerd and I geeking out and trying to explain it to other people “No, like you don’t get it – he made a SUPERHERO movie!!”. We figured he HAD to be a comic nerd because he created that universe so well.
Then came all the other stuff and it was….. not good.
I loved Split and I gasped at the end even though I read spoilers and knew it was coming. I’m very hopeful that Glass is as good.
I saw Unbreakable on a Disney cruise ship, of all places. I still remember it vividly. The theater had great sound which made the movie all the more impressive, but I always temper expectations of M. Night Shyamalan because of how awful The Village was.
That was the only movie I ever asked for my money back after viewing it. The guy working the customer service desk didn’t even argue when I told him what movie I’d seen, just opened the register and started counting out the cost of my ticket, which is also a vivid memory, thus the tempering.
The Village, Lady in the Water, The Happening . . .
Oh, my goodness, The Happening. So stupid. I didn’t see it, as I try to avoid ‘ol Marky Mark as much as possible, but one of my friends did and was so enraged by it he couldn’t stop talking about it afterward for a solid week or so. It’s still kind of a running joke between us. If one of us is trying to figure out why something happened the way it did inevitably the other will say, “maybe the trees did it.”
Lady in the Water was the one that did me in. I actually kinda-sorta liked the The Village, but Lady in the Water had me wanting a refund for those two hours of my life. I never gave Shyamalan another chance after that.
I liked Unbreakable well enough, but I was never as jazz-hands for it as other people were. Signs is my favourite Shyamalan movie.
Wait, where do you live that you can just ask for a refund after watching a movie?
Lol, I wanna know that too, I asked for a refund after Kingsman and got nothing.
Lol. It was about fifteen years ago, so I don’t know if they still do it, but it was an AMC theater in Houston. I was also a teenage girl at the time, so my extremely non-threatening appearance probably helped, along with the guy working there not having been all that much older. Plus, he knew the movie was garbage because when I told him which one it was he got a very knowing look on his face and told me which part of it he hated the most.
Right? That’s so weird! It’s not the theatre’s fault you picked a bad movie, you got what you paid for.
Honestly, I love M. Night and have never been unhappy with any of his films. I’m part of the unpopular opinion (I imagine) but I just enjoy all of his films. Even The Village and The Happening (I know I know…) that most can’t stand, I love. I think he’s fantastic but so many people spend time trying to compare him to others. He’s just M. Night and he’s unique on his own. His mind is so fascinating to me and some of his twists are just perfection. Unbreakable will always be one of my favorite films due to his take on super villians and super heroes. I love his take on good and bad in general though. Gah. He is just one of the best in my opinion.
One other reason I love him: I think it’s fun and entertaining when he creates characters for himself to play in his films. I always look forward to seeing him pop up as random characters! He’s so proud of his films that he’s willing to be a part of them. He has so much passion which just makes him even more charming.
Did…. “M.Night”…. write this?
Yes “M. Night” wrote this.
I kind of don’t like that he always has a cameo in his films. It makes me think that he thinks he’s on par with Hitchcock.
Even Avatar?! It was atrocious and pretty much felt like he was sh*tting on beyond amazing source material that’s very very dear to me. So yeah. I will never forgive him for that. He can bribe me with half-naked, muscular, acting-his-perfect-butt-off McAvoy (HE’S SO HOT IN THIS) all he wants, I will forever side-eye each and every project Shyamalan touches
That’s the main reason I hear people don’t like/appreciate him anymore. He destroyed one movie based on an animated tv show that so many people love. I get it, I do… But this is always the reason someone has an issue with him. Always.
I’m glad someone else has love for The Village. I think that movie has the best soundtrack for his films and makes me love it even more.
The village is fantastic! I did not see that twist ending coming at all. Still to this day it surprises me in a way. Lol
James McAvoy got ripped for this role. Wow.
I prefer him with a little less muscle mass, but I’d take him anyway I could get him!
I’ll have to see this movie.
I prefer him with the accent.
I know his body double in Split. He’s also super ripped.
LOL. I came here to say I will see anything in which James MMMMMMMcAvoy stars.
I love M. Night too, there is always something I find to connect with, I think Split was amazing and James McAvoy was fascinating, the way his eyes could change with each character was an acting workshop in itself.
*SPOILER*
The scene where Dennis stops pretending to be Barry is everything!! And the one where all the personalities flicker through him!! Gggahhghh CHILLS!
Yes, that was masterful! I also remember remarking in the scene where Casey tries to trick Hedwig, how she turns around and Hedwig has turned into Patricia. No costume change, not a word spoken, but you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was Patricia standing in front of her just from the way McAvoy held himself. Really great work.
He is underrated, probably one of the best actors of his generation
I think it looks very interesting.
However, the movie is scheduled to come out in January, which means it’s not going to be very good
Not true. Split was released in January and that movie’s damn good.
These release rules don’t really apply anymore, at least not at the box office. Split made A TON of money and would have had a shot at some awards too hadn’t Get Out come out in the same year. Awards are still biased towards horror movies (one in competition is enough), so I don’t think they really expect any and just release it at a point that seems good to them. Even if that means James and Samuel will be robbed again.
January and February aren’t the dumping grounds they use to be. I feel that the summer months are turning into that. Yes, there are big releases in the summer but there are few & far in between movies in the summer that pull you in. Right now, IMO, there isn’t anything good on the horizon until August 8.
I am so stoked for this!
I cannot wait for this section of the trilogy. Unbreakable and Split were entertaining as hell.
I don’t watch any of these movies, just came to say that James McAvoy looks buff.
GDI, the white-washing bastard got me.
I think m. Night is a great director who made some pretty great all time films: sixth sense, signs, and I really like the village which was out there. He takes risks and tells interesting stories.
Haven’t seen the other movies, but that trailer really wants me to see Glass. Might have to check out the others now. Thanks for posting this!