Director: M. Night Shyamalan Writers: M. Night Shyamalan

Stars: James McAvoy, Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson

M. Night Shyamalan has certainly had his fair share of box office bombs and I think this in itself can only make for a more grounded director. Thankfully, Glass is a world apart from that scenario. Casting James McAvoy in Split was one of the best decisions made as McAvoy delivers a powerhouse performance in Glass as DID sufferer Kevin Wendell Crumb. McAvoy shares the spotlight with Mr. Glass himself played by Samuel L. Jackson and David Dunn portrayed by Bruce Willis.

2019 seems to be the year for follow-up movies closing off stories spread out over several years. If you haven’t seen Unbreakable or Split, you’re going to struggle a little bit through the course of the film as the fates of these characters intertwine. It would pay to see both of these films before watching Glass if you haven’t already.

The film begins with David Dunn, a man who believes he has supernatural strength and is now tracking and hunting down a serial killer that we know to be The Beast, one of Kevin’s many personalities. Dunn is the main protagonist who has dedicated his “gift” to doing good and stopping violent crimes from happening. It is here that the story slowly begins to take shape when we see Dunn’s son from the previous film Unbreakable now a grown man, supporting his father’s crusade.

In pursuit of The Beast, Dunn and Kevin Wendell are both apprehended and taken to a psychiatric facility where we meet Dr Ellie Staple who has dedicated her life to “fixing” people who consider themselves ‘superheroes’ or villains as the case may be. The remainder of the film is revealed inside the hospital, and we’re slowly given more and more clues as to how all of these characters are connected.

The premise for this story is quite fantastical when you think about it. Three men all of whom are somehow tied to each other without knowing it are now finally brought together to face each other for the first time. The pretext regarding “villains” and “superheroes” is surgically and masterfully broken down bit by bit for us by the good Doctor who wants nothing more than to help her patients face the reality of the situation; that they are not blessed with super strength or super-intelligence or with the ability to transform into a beast. These men are relatively normal individuals who have lived their lives thinking they’re something they’re not.

That may be what the Doctor ordered, but Mr Glass (definitely the villain) has his agenda (of course). When Mr Glass begins to carry out his plan, the three men are thrown together in a series of events that will change the course of their destinies forever.

It was a nice touch adding abduction victim Casey Cook from Split played by Anya Taylor-Joy into the mix. Her presence certainly has a profound impact on Kevin, turning the tide of events even further. Another reason why it’s a good idea to see the previous films (so you understand why this happens).

I was happy with the way the trilogy of films wrapped up and can honestly say that Glass was every bit the film it needed to be to get there. I wouldn’t say it’s better than Split but certainly good enough to put Shyamalan back in the frame (and in theatres) once more.

Darksider Confessions Rating: 7/10