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JAMIE EAST AT THE MOVIES

Once you get past the bizarre premise, Split is good fun, and a step in the right direction for M. Night Shyamalan

It could have been a ridiculous generic slasher flick but the comedy moments and big scare factor steer it in the right direction

Once you embrace the slightly nonsensical premise of a man with 23-ish different personalities abducting three girls and locking them up in a cellar - Split is good fun.

Plenty of scares and a fair few laughs turn what could have been a ridiculous generic slasher flick into something more substantial.

The concept of Split is a bit ridiculous, but if you can past that, it's really good fun
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The concept of Split is a bit ridiculous, but if you can past that, it's really good funCredit: AP:Associated Press

It must surely have seemed an actors dream role - the chance to really flex those muscles and dig into the gamut of different characters on offer?

In Split, McAvoy hits more than he misses, but only by a hair’s breadth.

The film has been criticised for making light of serious mental issues, but that to me is lazy - the same could be said for Psycho or theoretically any film containing a deranged killer.

James McAvoy's character has abducted three girls and locks them up in a cellar together
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James McAvoy's character has abducted three girls and locks them up in a cellar togetherCredit: AP:Associated Press
Playing 23 different characters is something any actor would love and James McAvoy just about manages it, by the skin of his teeth
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Playing 23 different characters is something any actor would love and James McAvoy just about manages it, by the skin of his teethCredit: AP:Associated Press

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Criticise it instead for unnecessary scenes where teenage girls are stripped to their underwear for zero reason other than to see three teenage girls in their underwear.

This feels an odd and disjointed move from Shyamalan’s previous thoughtful style.

M. Night Shyamalan really needs this to work - his strike rate has seen diminishing returns with every film since The Village and that was 13 years ago.

M. Night Shyamalan needed this to be a hit as his films have been decreasing in popularity since The Village
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M. Night Shyamalan needed this to be a hit as his films have been decreasing in popularity since The VillageCredit: AP:Associated Press
The film has its fair share of scares and comedy which elevate it beyond a clichéd slasher flick
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The film has its fair share of scares and comedy which elevate it beyond a clichéd slasher flickCredit: AP:Associated Press

Luckily for him, this is a huge step in the right direction. It’s far from perfect, but it shows a talented man getting back into the groove.

Is there the classic twist? Well, I’m sworn to secrecy, but I would stick around for the final scene. A glimpse of things to come M. Night? I Hope so…

★★★

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