Split is how I felt sometimes whilst watching this film where James McAvoy plays a man with 23 different personalities. His acting is amazing and the film looks good yet at times it dawdles by not moving fast enough. The film feels like there should be another element to it as the film is about this man who has taken these three girls and also a doctor who is studying the main character. It feels like there should be a third part of someone looking for the girls and investigating the man, a mix of the two other story parts. The lack of this part can slow the film down and it is left upon James McAvoy’s acting to keep everything fresh, to keep you engaged which it does really well but shouldn’t need too. The overall story is really good with a few twists and turns that you may or may not notice in advance depending on how much attention you’re paying. You never really feel a large sense of danger for the girl’s who are kidnapped, at least not until the end, because the film is more about how weird the situation is rather than how scary it is. It replaces the usual horror scares for some more weird/comedic/awkward and lighter scenes. There are a few, in particular, that will be rememberable but really it is a film where you’ll discuss different parts of it. I love it when you can make guesses of people’s choices and feel like you have to discuss what happened throughout the film afterward. The ending will particularly make you search for answers or make you ask others that may know. Overall the film is intriguing and enjoyable but could’ve done with a little more story-wise to make me feel like I’d want to watch it again in the future.
Expectations Level: Slightly High, trailer was really good and heard a bit of buzz about it.
Expectations Achieved: The trailer represented the film really well and the buzz is accurate.
Score: 3.5/5 – Split is a film with fantastic acting by James McAvoy which is enough for you to enjoy the film. The story is alright and could’ve easily been better but thanks to the weird scenes and overall idea, as well as the twists, the film is an enjoyable watch that will have you talking about it afterwards.