How a psychological thriller became the surprise sequel to a forgotten superhero classic
In short: M. Night Shyamalan’s 2016 film Split follows a man with twenty-three distinct personalities who kidnaps three teenage girls. While it functions as a standalone psychological thriller, the film serves as a stealth sequel to the director's 2000 work, Unbreakable, eventually expanding into a trilogy that redefined his career trajectory.
Released in 2017 after a 2016 premiere, Split marked a significant revival for M. Night Shyamalan. Following a string of critically panned projects like The Last Airbender and After Earth, the director returned to his roots in Philadelphia to craft a tense, introspective story. The film centers on Kevin Wendell Crumb, a man suffering from dissociative identity disorder, whose various personas—including the dangerous Dennis and Patricia—imprison three girls in an underground facility beneath the Philadelphia Zoo. The narrative explores the struggle for control among his twenty-three established identities and the looming threat of a twenty-fourth, superhuman persona known as The Beast.
The film’s connection to Shyamalan’s earlier work, Unbreakable, was a closely guarded secret until the final scene. While Unbreakable explored the origin of a man who discovers he possesses special powers after a train wreck, Split focuses on the psychological fragmentation of its antagonist. The revelation that both films exist in the same universe—culminating in a reference to the villain Mr. Glass—surprised audiences and critics alike. This narrative choice allowed Shyamalan to weave together disparate character studies into a cohesive trilogy, which was later concluded with the 2019 film Glass.
Despite its commercial success, grossing $278 million worldwide on a modest $9 million budget, the film faced scrutiny. While critics praised James McAvoy’s performance as the multifaceted Crumb, some mental health advocates criticized the production for its portrayal of dissociative identity disorder. The film remains a hallmark of Shyamalan’s visual style, utilizing his signature techniques such as careful framing, the use of portals like doorways, and a deliberate, quiet atmosphere to build suspense. By blending supernatural elements with grounded, character-driven drama, Split successfully reestablished Shyamalan as a master of the modern psychological thriller.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Split | film by Shyamalan [2016] | Britannica
- Also: Split (2016 American film)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-split-2016-american-film.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
