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Glass

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Writer: M. Night Shyamalan
Released: January 2019
Starring: James McAvoy, Bruce Willis, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sarah Paulson and Samuel L. Jackson
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Okay. So. In order to enjoy this movie to the max, I strongly recommend you view the two prequels before heading to the cinema.

The very first movie in this trilogy (look at me assuming there’s only going to be three…) is Unbreakable. This came out 2000 and actually has a stronger connection to Glass than Split.

The second movie was Split, and this is important to understand the backstory of the ‘villain’ (James McAvoy) and the ‘brain box’ (Samuel L. Jackson).

I’m so excited about this film, I don’t know where to begin!

Okay, so if you loved seeing all the characters that James McAvoy played in the previous film, then you will feel like you’ve died and gone to heaven in this film. You will learn more about each of his personalities and understand Patricia a little more. But you must watch Split before seeing Glass if you want to understand and appreciate the relationship between the different personalities.

I know that everyone knows, but James McAvoy is just a remarkable actor! He portrays each personality so accurately that you swear you were looking at a different actor. Absolutely obsessed with this character! So amazing to watch. You’ll giggle with nervousness, and chuckle at the absurdity, but ultimately he’s the scariest villain I’ve come across.

Where Unbreakable was about the ‘reluctant hero’ (Bruce Willis), Glass is about the baddies. A psychiatrist (Sarah Paulson) has captured all three characters (Kevin Crumb/The Horde, Elijah Price/Mr. Glass and David Dunn/The Overseer) and locked them in a secure unit. They are unable to escape as each of their weaknesses guards their cell. What kryptonite is to Superman: water is to Dunn, flashes of light is to Crumb and a room void of mental stimulation is to Price.

How will they escape? Who’s really in charge?

There are tonnes of references to comic book tropes and character stereotypes, which I loved! Also, because much of the film is shot via security cameras within the secure unit, you feel like it’s a movie within a movie. Especially because Elijah Price almost narrates the film in third person, referring to each main character as the ‘villain’ and the ‘reluctant hero’.

“That sounds like the bad guys teaming up.” – Mr. Glass

A couple of presenters on either Coast or Radio Hauraki (I can’t remember which) only gave Glass 2/5. But one of the presenters hadn’t watched Split, and the other presenter hadn’t watched Unbreakable. So I think this was likely the reason for their low rating. They probably found it boring because they would have missed the interesting details and references.

You must watch this film if you love movies in general, comics or M. Night Shyamalan.

Jodie’s rating: 7/10

Unbreakable

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Writer: M. Night Shyamalan
Released: November 2000
Starring: Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson and Robin Wright Penn
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Did anyone else not realise that Unbreakable is a prequel to Split?

As soon as we found out, we got our hands on the DVD since we loved Split so much.

You can tell it is an M. Night Shyamalan film immediately. The looooooong shots, the reflections in televisions and glass… The list goes on – it’s very Shyamalan-y.

Unbreakable is about David (Bruce Willis) who discovers he’s invincible. He’s essentially a superhero. So this is the story about him coming to terms with this, and discovering his arch enemy – something ever superhero must have.

Doctor: To answer your question, there are two reasons why I’m looking at you like this. One, because it seems in a few minutes you will officially be the only survivor of this train wreck, and two, because you didn’t break one bone. You don’t have a scratch on you.

The film is an arduous journey. It’s a long, slow arch that takes you on an epic journey, very… very… very… slowly…

I thought, because of this, Unbreakable must have have been made well before The Sixth Sense, as Unbreakable felt a little less complex, and it looked a bit ‘basic’.

Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson): Do you know what the scariest thing is? To not know your place in this world, to not know why you’re here. That’s – that’s just an awful feeling.

The casting for The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable are very similar – I can only assume Hayley Joel Osment was not available, because Shyamalan found his doppelgänger, Spencer Treat Clark.

Just like every other Shyamalan film, he makes an appearance – keep an eye out for him!

If you’re a comic book fan, you’ll probably enjoy the nuances of the comic-inspired characters, and will be happy to endure the long pauses and dialogue-heavy scenes.

Elijah Price: It’s alright to be afraid, David, because this part won’t be like a comic book. Real life doesn’t fit into little boxes that were drawn for it.

It was good, but not great. I like Bruce Willis, and I like Shyamalan films, but this wasn’t their best work. (The Village is still my favourite film by this director.)

Nevertheless, it’s an interesting backstory to Split. It fills the holes in a bit.

Keep an eye out for the third instalment: Glass.

Jodie’s rating: 5/10

split1

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Writer: M. Night Shyamalan
Released: January 2017
Starring: James McAvoy and Betty Buckley
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Another brilliant film from M. Night Shyamalan. It’s the best kind of story – the kind that you’ll be thinking about for days.

For me, Split is a return to Shyamalan’s trademark of well-rounded characters and fantastic storylines. It’s a film that echoes the genius of The Village and The Sixth Sense.

Split is about a man called Kevin Wendell-Crumb (James McAvoy, whose talent will be gushed upon shortly) who has 23 personalities. He kidnaps three girls and keeps them hostage. All the while, one of the three girls cottons on to his multiple personalities, and tries to manipulate one of them – a nine-year-old boy – to help them escape. But, will they be able to escape before the mysterious 24^th personality reveals itself?

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I can’t explain how remarkable McAvoy is in this film. I know McAvoy as Mr Tumnus from the Narnia films, we named our goat Mr Tumnus after his portrayal of this character because we loved him so much.

Every one of McAvoy’s personalities in this film is so believable, especially Patricia. Oh my goodness, she’s scary. The crazy thing is, you feel relieved when you realise McAvoy’s character is the nine-year-old, and petrified when he’s Patricia, even though he’s physically the same person. That’s how talented he is. He can morph himself into different people seemlessly.

I didn’t think much of the hostages’ acting. They were mostly appearing dumb-founded with a lot of silent, wide-eyed staring. But I was fascinated by the psychiatrist in the film, Dr Karen Fletcher (Betty Buckley). Buckley’s acting was phenomenal. I was hooked on every word she said; she was so articulate and fascinating. So actually, perhaps I should say kudos to the screen writing. Nevertheless, along with McAvoy, she was great.

I was expecting a horror, but this is actually a thriller. More than that, it is a sequel to the thriller Unbreakable (featuring Bruce Willis), and a prequel to a thriller called Glass, which is set to be released next year! I’m on that like white on rice.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. If you loved Shyamalan’s films from the early days, then you’ll love this too. Brilliant writing, fantastic casting, and horrifyingly complex characters and theories that will have you dwelling on the film for days.

Highly recommend seeing it.

Jodie’s rating: 8.5/10