Two years ago, I watched M. Night Shyamalan's "Split" starring an impressive James McAvoy as a disturbed man afflicted with Dissociative Identity Disorder. I did not expect that puzzling extra scene when Bruce Willis appeared. It was his character David Dunn from another much older Shyamalan film "Unbreakable" (2000). Shyamalan was actually going to connect the stories of these two extraordinary human beings with superpowers! Back then, this was a totally exciting development, and now this dream mash-up is a reality.
"Unbreakable" was about security guard David Dunn, a man who apparently possessed the power of invincibility. Not only had he never gotten sick ever, he was also the only survivor of a terrible major train accident. He can also see a person's past by touching him. He met Elijah Price, a wheelchair-bound genius afflicted with osteogenesis imperfecta (hence his monicker Mr. Glass), who was a comic book fan obsessed with superheroes.
"Split" was about Kevin Wendell Crumb, one of his 24 distinct personalities of different gender, age and incilinations that comprise his so-called "horde." He had been abducting teenage girls and torturing them out of their minds. His most remarkable persona was that of "The Beast," who had incredible brute strength, as well as the ability to climb up walls and crawl across ceilings.
You need to watch both "Unbreakable" and "Split" to appreciate this new film sequel on a deeper level. In this third episode, David, Elijah and Kevin were all gathered together and confined in a mental institution with advanced security facilties in order to be studied by Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson). The main aim of her sessions with them was to convince all three that their "super powers" were only mere delusions in their heads, not real.
As before, James McAvoy was spectacular to behold as the personality-shifting Kevin. Without warning, McAvoy would seamlessly shift from one character to another. (He really should have been at least nominated for an acting Oscar for "Split". ) Samuel L. Jackson can really get into play these creepy eccentric characters like Elijah with seemingly effortless ease. Even in a low-key character like David, Bruce Willis does turn in one of his best acting performances of late. The commitment of three actors to their roles certainly made the whole film worth watching despite some qualms about the storytelling.
It was incredible that all the main characters of "Unbreakable" were all back to reprise their roles. Willis and Jackson played David and Elijah like how these characters would have evolved with the passage of time. Charlayne Woodard was back in her role as Isaiah's supportive mother. The most remarkable was the return of Spencer Treat Clark as David's son Joseph. He was only 13 in "Unbreakable," now he is 31. From "Split," Anna Taylor-Joy returns in her role of Casey, who survived her ordeal under Kevin.
For those unfamiliar with the first two movies, the psychobabble may get too boring and repetitive, especially in Act 2. However, for fans who knew these characters well, all the introspective talk about and between them were actually quite fascinating, until they all peaked in a major showdown scene we all expected (but certainly not predict). Even if it may have felt like Shyamalan took too long to get to its gut-wrenching climax, everything ended in a polarizing brain-twister, in his signature style 8/10.
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