Review: ‘SPLIT’- M. Night Shyamalan’s Best Movie in Over a Decade

The last thirteen years have not been kind to M. Night Shyamalan’s career. After several failed films, it looks like the once “master of suspense” has finally found his way back to making quality films with Split, the most ambitious and downright thrilling film of Shyamalan’s since Signs. Described as a psychological horror film, which is both written and directed by Shyamalan himself, the film stars James McAvoy as a man living with twenty three unique personalities and a moment of impulse that will unearth a side of himself not yet experienced.

Kevin (James McAvoy) has made a life changing decision, one that he will never come back from. Kevin has kidnapped young friends, Claire (Haley Lu Richardson) and Marcia (Jessica Sula), and their troubled friend Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy), and is now holding them captive in a windowless room somewhere underground. Frightened and unsure of why they’re in this predicament, the three young girls soon find out that their captive is more than he appears. Having first been introduced to Dennis, the forceful leader of Kevin’s personalities, more emerge to suit the situation. Patricia, the elder statesmen and the calming voice and Hedwig, a nine-year-old boy looking for a friend, arrive to meet the young ladies and help them understand why they have been chosen. Casey, the more road weary of the three girls, pitches an idea that they must try and convince one of the personalities to betray the others and free the girls before it’s too late, but a twenty fourth personality begins to emerge as “The Beast” is growing and threatens to consume all that Kevin is.

The performance of James McAvoy is truly spellbinding. His commitment to the multiple roles inside Kevin are portrayed in widely unique ways, with each personality granted its own separate thought process. It’s McAvoy‘s finest role since Filth. Betty Buckley portrays the calming and mothering figure of Dr. Karen Fletcher. Her involvement in the film adds a unique substance and understanding the to workings of Kevin and creates doubt in the audience’s thinking about the man. Haley Lu Richardson and Jessica Sula embody the spirit necessary to create the fear and confusion of being captive and compliment the emergence of Anya Taylor-Joys Casey as the strength of the group. Casey’s backstory is a powerful twist that parallel’s the situation at hand and Joy’s portrayal the perfect vessel to tell it.

Overall, Split is a great psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. The shocking ending will have fans of Shyamalan‘s earlier films gasping in disbelief. A true return to form for the proud director.

Stars:

3 1/2 out of 5

Trailer:

Universal Pictures has just debuted the new trailer for M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Split’

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Universal Pictures has just debuted the new trailer for M. Night Shyamalan’s Split and we have it for you below!

Writer/director/producer M. Night Shyamalan returns to the captivating grip of The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs with Split, an original film that delves into the mysterious recesses of one man’s fractured, gifted mind.  Following last year’s breakout hit The Visit, Shyamalan reunites with producer Jason Blum (The Purge and Insidious series, The Gift) for the thriller being hailed as “Shyamalan’s most terrifying film to date.”

Though Kevin (James McAvoy) has evidenced 23 personalities—each with unique physical attributes—to his trusted psychiatrist, Dr. Fletcher (Betty Buckley), there remains one still submerged who is set to materialize and dominate all the others.  Compelled to abduct three teenage girls led by the willful, observant Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy, The Witch), Kevin reaches a war for survival among all of those contained within him—as well as everyone around him—as the walls between his compartments shatter apart.

Split is in theaters January 20, 2017

Wizard World Brings Its Best Show to Date to Philadelphia!

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Another exciting edition of Wizard World Comic Con has come and gone for Philadelphia, but this one will not soon be forgotten by those who attended. The list of celebrities attending this edition of the popular roadshow included David Tenant and Billy Piper from Dr. WhoHayley Atwell from Marvel’s Agent Carter, Ben McKenzie from Fox’s Gotham and, making a rare comic con appearance, Stephen Amell from CW’s hit show Arrow, all of whom won were available for autographs and photo ops.

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The event, which celebrated it’s 15th year here in the City of Brotherly Love, took place again at the Philadelphia Convention Center right in center city. The easily accessible location allowed for travelers from all over the Delaware Valley and the world to converge on Philadelphia for this highly popular con. Everything from merchandise booths to local and national artists to celebrity meet and greets were available as well as a wide range of the countries best cosplayers for the four day event. Everywhere you went there was something to enjoy all weekend long and I would venture to guess that very few, if any attendees, went away unhappy.

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For me, the best part of this event are the Q and A panels. Each panel allows the convention attendees to interact with their favorite stars about their lives and projects and share a few laughs. The show started off with a bang by hosting a special screening of Fox’s new show Wayward Pines which was hosted by the Philadelphia’s own  M. Night Shyamalan, who wrote and directed the premiere episode. The crowd was generally impressed with the show and Shyamalan was engaging in his conversation with the audience. Saturday was the big day for panels. David Tenant and Billy Piper wow’d the audience with stories from their time on their immensely popular show while taking time to answer questions for their adoring fans. The event was open to only VIP ticket holders which made the event even more exclusive and special for those in attendance.

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A quick run around the con floor for some more fun and then it was back to the Terrance Ballroom for the next round of panels. Ben McKenzie was up first and was wonderful with the audience. The actor spoke of his time of the show Southland as well as reflected on the first season of Gotham. Little information was given regarding season 2 of the show sadly, but we can wait a few more months right? Agent Carter herself Hayley Atwell was next and really proved what a truly genuine person she is. Atwell was engaging with the audience and really dug in when asked some candid questions about the show. What’s up next for Agent Carter? We will see the show jump ahead a few years and we might even see a new side kick! The headliner of the day Stephen Amell was my final panel of the day. Amell, star of the widely popular CW show Arrow took the stage by storm and never relinquished his hold on the audience. He may have even let slip a few tidbits about his characters future! All in all a really spectacular day of panels.

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Sunday, the final day of the con is always the saddest. You know this will be the last time you get to walk amongst the people for this year, but you also remind yourself that it’s only a few short months before you’ll all be together again. Wizard World sure left its mark on this city for another year, a mark many of us will be reminding ourselves of for days and years to come.

The Trailer for M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘The Visit’ Arrives

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Universal Pictures has released the first trailer for M. Night Shyamalan’s new thriller The Visit and we have it for you below!

Shyamalan returns to his roots with the terrifying story of a brother and sister who are sent to their grandparents’ remote Pennsylvania farm for a week long trip. Once the children discover that the elderly couple is involved in something deeply disturbing, they see their chances of getting back home are growing smaller every day.

Shyamalan produces The Visit through his Blinding Edge Pictures, while Jason Blum produces through his Blumhouse Productions alongside Mark Bienstock (Quarantine 2: Terminal). Steven Schneider (Insidious) and Ashwin Rajan (Devil) executive produce the thriller.

The movie stars Kathryn Hahn (Parks and Recreation), Deanna Dunagan (The Cherokee Word for Water), Peter McRobbie (Inherent Vice), Ed Oxenbould (Paper Planes), and Olivia DeJonge (The Sisterhood of Night).

The movie arrives home on September 11, 2015

The Poster for M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘The Visit’ Arrives

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Universal Pictures has released the teaser poster for the upcoming thriller The Visit written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan and produced by Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity, The Purge and Insidious series).

Shyamalan returns to his roots with the terrifying story of a brother and sister who are sent to their grandparents’ remote Pennsylvania farm for a week long trip. Once the children discover that the elderly couple is involved in something deeply disturbing, they see their chances of getting back home are growing smaller every day.

Shyamalan produces The Visit through his Blinding Edge Pictures, while Blum produces through his Blumhouse Productions alongside Mark Bienstock (Quarantine 2: Terminal). Steven Schneider (Insidious) and Ashwin Rajan (Devil) executive produce the thriller.

The movie stars Kathryn Hahn (Parks and Recreation), Deanna Dunagan (The Cherokee Word for Water), Peter McRobbie (Inherent Vice), Ed Oxenbould (Paper Planes), and Olivia DeJonge (The Sisterhood of Night).

 

Follow Grandma’s Rules and tune-in this Thursday for the trailer debut

The movie arrives home on September 11, 2015

Trailer for Fox’s ‘Wayward Pines’ Starring Matt Dillon Debuts

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FOX has released the trailer Wayward Pines, an event series starring Matt Dillon and executive produced by M. Night Shyamalan. You can watch the trailer below!

Dillon plays a U.S. Secret Service agent investigating the disappearance of two federal agents in a mysterious small Idaho town. The show boasts an all star cast including Carla Gugino, Toby Jones, Shannyn Sossamon, Reed Diamond, Tim Griffin, Charlie Tahan, Juliette Lewis, Melissa Leo and Terrence Howard, who is currently starring in the hit Fox series Empire.

The show is based on the novel “Pines” by Blake Crouch and developed for TV by Chad Hodge. The pilot episode was written by Hodge and directed by Shyamalan himself.

Wayward Pines is set to premiere on FOX Thursday May 14th