Split - Personalities Keeping Alive in the Mind
I don't know what the image of 23 toothbrushes belonging to one person in the final scene of the movie Split means to those who haven't seen the movie, but for me it is enough to understand the horror.
Let's rewind the story a bit. This is the life of Kevin Wendell Crumb, who was diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder.
Dissociative identity disorder is known as multiple personality disorder. Dissociative identity disorder is characterized by the presence of at least two distinct and relatively persistent personality states. source
The fact that there are 23 personalities in one body and that a single personality determines which one will emerge is both intriguing and frightening.
Moreover, while one of the emerging personalities is as innocent as a child and as mentally and physically weak as a child, another one can carry several times its weight.
One of the personalities may be diabetic, while the other may appear quite healthy. They can be both male and female with the same body.
The 23 personalities that Kevin develops in his mind and the “coming to light process” that determines which personality will emerge seem harmless at first. Watching the main character with the personalities he has created in his mind is an extraordinary experience because seeing 23 different personalities in one person's body triggers a sense of wonder that is as incredible as it is strange.
The existence of the 24th personality, initially presented as a fantasy, successfully carries the mystery aspect of the movie. Although its existence has not yet been revealed, the fact that all the preparations are geared towards it contributes to the suspense and horror aspect of the movie.
Obviously, while watching the movie, the curiosity about how dominant the last personality might be over the 23 tenses the atmosphere. At one point, I even started to think that he would remain in name only, but his arrival is perfectly portrayed.
James McAvoy, who plays Kevin Wendell Crumb, the starting point of all personalities, gives an acting lesson with his performance. His transitions between personalities in a few minutes were flawless.
Already in the story of the movie, we witness the creation of the 24th personality. Each personality we watch gives clues outside the usual flow in reflecting the “monster”, which is considered as the final personality. When these are considered as pieces that will reveal the big picture, they multiply the success in terms of viewing pleasure and fluency in the story.
The film has a simple narrative that is an exploration of the complexity of the human mind, Kevin's traumatic childhood explains the personality divisions in his mind. The sentences in his dialogues with his doctor are subtle enough to make everyone understand what is going on.
The 3 young girls he kidnapped do not add enough depth to the story. The only parts of the movie that I can criticize, the kidnapping and the detention processes, contribute to the reflection of Kevin's split personality, but they do not increase the momentum in the suspense and horror aspect of the movie.
Their contribution to the story could perhaps have made the movie a masterpiece. Nevertheless, James McAvoy's acting performance will make the movie one of the most memorable.
The parts of Kevin Wendell Crumb's childhood experiences related to his split personality were the moments that dramatized the story and I think they were the most valuable scenes of the movie.
The image of 23 toothbrushes belonging to a person in the last scene I started writing about was one of the best movie visuals I have ever seen in terms of snapshots. As they always say, some pictures speak, this was one of them.
I recommend you to watch Split for its psychological depth and James McAvoy's performance, which I find worth seeing. It has a clever script and watching 23 people created through one character offers a great experience.
I also think that those who watch the movie will change their perspective on psychological disorders. I don't want to give my personal opinion because it will be a controversial topic, but after watching the movie, I am sure that everyone will have an opinion.
Thank you for being here and reading. Take care and goodbye!
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I have no doubt that this film is intriguing as well as traumatic. I was practically waiting with bated breath to see what the 24th personality would be like. Thanks for sharing what looks like an amazing horror thriller with us.🌺
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I remember when I saw it, I don't know if I was watching a psychological thriller or a horror movie, but well, I really liked James' work as the antagonist. Literally, playing a character who counts for 23 is something that not many talented actors manage to do to such a degree and in this case it was achieved and it is one of the most remarkable things about the film. The story, the different characters, their pasts, the origin of their disorder and the birth of their final personality are some of the most interesting things this film has to offer. I really like how they play with the human mind, how a person can become a "monster" after going through a difficult childhood and a somewhat complicated life.
Excellent review.
How I love psychological thrillers like this. The whole idea of having 23 personalities is intriguing in itself. I'll definitely make a mental note to add it to my watch list soon