Unbreakable / Split / Glass (M. Night Shyamalan, 2000-2019)
- The Narrator Returns
- Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:35 pm
Unbreakable / Split / Glass (M. Night Shyamalan, 2000-2019)
Shyamalan's latest film, Split (starring James McAvoy and The Witch's Anya Taylor-Joy, and shot by It Follows's Mike Gioulakis), made its surprise debut at Fantastic Fest last night, and is getting maybe his best reviews since Sixth Sense.
- Roger Ryan
- Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2010 12:04 pm
- Location: A Midland town spread and darkened into a city
Re: M. Night Shyamalan
Take that Hitchcock and DePalma: 23, count 'em, 23 distinct personalities! I can't see this playing as anything but camp. And I think it's safe to say that the twist this time is...The Narrator Returns wrote:Shyamalan's latest film, Split (starring James McAvoy and The Witch's Anya Taylor-Joy, and shot by It Follows's Mike Gioulakis), made its surprise debut at Fantastic Fest last night, and is getting maybe his best reviews since Sixth Sense.
SpoilerShow
...the McAvoy character is a werewolf in addition to suffering from dissociative identity disorder.
- The Narrator Returns
- Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:35 pm
Re: M. Night Shyamalan
I saw Split last weekend, and I'm honestly considering going back this weekend. This is terrific, with all the elements Shyamalan delivered in his heyday (creeping dread, formal rigor, oddball comedy, unexpected pathos) being present, in addition to two of the very finest performances in any Shyamalan film, from McAvoy and Taylor-Joy (Shyamalan puts a lot of faith in both throughout the movie, and they succeed at every turn). I also have to give credit to everyone who saw it at Fantastic Fest and didn't fess up to the movie's actual surprise ending (Roger Ryan's guess is close to the reality of what happens in the film, but that's much more a basic plot point than it is a spoiler)
- Brian C
- I hate to be That Pedantic Guy but...
- Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:58 am
- Location: Chicago, IL
Re: M. Night Shyamalan
I will say only that I'm surprised, because I've read enough of you on this forum to know that you're an intelligent fellow, and so your praise of the film is meaningful and I do not dismiss it lightly, but ... damn if it doesn't look like just about the worst thing ever made.
- pzadvance
- Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2011 7:24 pm
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
Re: M. Night Shyamalan
I will also vouch for it being a blast, and even moreso than last year's refreshingly solid The Visit, this displays a lot of what made Shyamalan's work so interesting and exciting once upon a time. Any former Shyamalan fans that have even the slightest interest in seeing this whatsoever, I would implore you to hit the theaters before the ending gets spoilt. Watching it unfold was the most visceral and unforgettable experience I've had at the cinema for a long while...
I'm keeping it vague, but seriously, don't click this if you wan…Show
though that's largely due to what a huge role his previous work occupied in my life as a high school-aged budding cinephile. When *that* music started creeping in, and I recognized what it meant, my whole body was consumed with chills and I started laughing uncontrollably out of sheer joy. I didn't expect, in this day and age, that a surprise of this sort would even be possible to pull off.
- colinr0380
- Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:30 pm
- Location: Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, UK
Re: M. Night Shyamalan
I'm just wondering how much of Raising Cain is in this film.
(I'm trying to think of other multiple personality disorder films and the only one that's not a horror is Sally Field in Sybil!)
(I'm trying to think of other multiple personality disorder films and the only one that's not a horror is Sally Field in Sybil!)
- cdnchris
- Site Admin
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:45 pm
- Location: Washington
- Contact:
Re: M. Night Shyamalan
Me, Myself & Irene was technically not a horror film.
- knives
- Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:49 pm
Re: M. Night Shyamalan
Three Faces of Eve is a pretty good non-horror example.
- hearthesilence
- Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2005 4:22 am
- Location: NYC
Re: The Films of 2017
Man, is this year off to a ****ty start or what?swo17 wrote:The world hasn't quite ended yet so people will presumably keep making movies. See here if you don't believe me. Some highlights:
- M. Night Shyamalan makes a thematic sequel to Unbreakable
- Lasse Hallström remembers how much people liked his last movie about dogs
- You're going to have to hear about 50 Shades of Grey again
- Zhang Yimou makes his obligatory Matt Damon-starring vehicle
- A Power Rangers movie not directed by Joseph Kahn
- mfunk9786
- Under Chris' Protection
- Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 4:43 pm
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
Re: The Films of 2017
I think the consensus was pretty darn strong for Split
- domino harvey
- Dot Com Dom
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm
Re: The Films of 2017
Maybe those stars were hiding the word "mighty" (or, for Shyamalan, "twisty")
- hearthesilence
- Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2005 4:22 am
- Location: NYC
Re: The Films of 2017
It's not the worst of those films, but I side with those who were less-impressed, and there were more than a few who were.
- aox
- Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2008 12:02 pm
- Location: nYc
Re: The Films of 2017
The people I know who had anything positive to say about Split just seemed more relieved that he made something watchable.
- The Narrator Returns
- Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:35 pm
Re: Split (M. Night Shyamalan, 2017)
Shyamalan's next film will be Glass, a sequel to this
SpoilerShow
and Unbreakable
- mfunk9786
- Under Chris' Protection
- Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 4:43 pm
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
Re: Split (M. Night Shyamalan, 2017)
The only thing I didn't understand (or like - thought this was a pretty great modern De Palma riff) about Split was him making that linkage, so I can't say I'm very optimistic. It's amazing how quickly filmmakers can go from revitalizing their careers to climbing right back up the well-worn path inside their own ass.
- dda1996a
- Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2015 6:14 am
Re: Split (M. Night Shyamalan, 2017)
Well I've always though he was extremely overrated. I think Sixth Sense and Unbreakable are solid thrillers, but everything else he made has been utterly ridiculous and not in a good way. Haven't seen Split yet, but I disliked the Visit as well, so I don't have my hopes up
- flyonthewall2983
- Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:31 pm
- Location: Indiana
- Contact:
Re: Split (M. Night Shyamalan, 2017)
Now I'm interested.The Narrator Returns wrote:Shyamalan's next film will be Glass, a sequel to thisSpoilerShowand Unbreakable
- Murdoch
- Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:59 pm
- Location: Upstate NY
Re: Split (M. Night Shyamalan, 2017)
I'm tentatively interested. Extended universes are for some reason the go-to for nearly every U.S.-made movie now so it just seems like Shyamalan playing into that trend in the only way he knows how: by revealing it at the end of one of his films. What a twist.
Last edited by Murdoch on Sat Apr 29, 2017 1:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- flyonthewall2983
- Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:31 pm
- Location: Indiana
- Contact:
Re: Split (M. Night Shyamalan, 2017)
SpoilerShow
I liked the idea of Unbreakable more than it's execution, but I came away hoping there would be a sequel that would realize that idea more. The fact that we're getting one this late is a pleasant surprise, even to someone who's been all in on the Shyamalan hate train. I just hope they can get James Newton Howard back on board.
- mfunk9786
- Under Chris' Protection
- Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 4:43 pm
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
Re: Unbreakable / Split / Glass (M. Night Shyamalan, 2000-2019)
Reviews for Glass are out, and oh boy, it looks like Shyamalan has gone and made a bad movie (again) at the very moment he needed to make a good movie to get everyone back on board with his career (again) - 41 on Metacritic and not a single positive review
- tenia
- Ask Me About My Bassoon
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:13 am
Re: Unbreakable / Split / Glass (M. Night Shyamalan, 2000-2019)
A colleague of mine just posted his review, and the main takes on the movie are that it's well done but dumb and way too predictable to be anything to remember, though he's slightly positive about it.
Looks like the kind of movies I could try out at home "just in case" or at least because I'll be able to fast forward through it, only to end up remembering while I skipped it in theaters in the first place.
Looks like the kind of movies I could try out at home "just in case" or at least because I'll be able to fast forward through it, only to end up remembering while I skipped it in theaters in the first place.
- dda1996a
- Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2015 6:14 am
Re: Unbreakable / Split / Glass (M. Night Shyamalan, 2000-2019)
It's not like his latest two weren't completely stupid and ridiculous anyway. In fact I'm surprised people liked them as they feature everything that is bad with this guy.
- Murdoch
- Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:59 pm
- Location: Upstate NY
Re: Unbreakable / Split / Glass (M. Night Shyamalan, 2000-2019)
I actually thought Split was the best film he's done. The opening scene was tense yet deceptively casual. I think it really showed that Shyamalan has the ability to be a very good filmmaker but his preoccupation with science fiction/horror focuses him on the least interesting aspects of his films.
Last edited by Murdoch on Thu Jan 10, 2019 1:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- tenia
- Ask Me About My Bassoon
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:13 am
Re: Unbreakable / Split / Glass (M. Night Shyamalan, 2000-2019)
He's probably a good filmmaker, but his movies just need better scripts.
- colinr0380
- Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:30 pm
- Location: Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, UK
Re: Unbreakable / Split / Glass (M. Night Shyamalan, 2000-2019)
And I kind of like The Happening, if just for the scene of Mark Whalberg nervously talking to a potted plant which turns out to be plastic!
Last edited by colinr0380 on Thu Jan 10, 2019 12:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.