I’ve only just found out that one of my favourite films, Unbreakable, had a sequel and I didn’t even know about it. Apparently a film called Split starring James McAvoy came out a couple of years ago (it passed me by completely) and in a surprise ending revealed itself to be a sequel to Unbreakable.
I’m not spoiling anything here. The cat is out of the bag now and there is a third film, Glass, being advertised now which reunites the entire cast of both previous films, including Bruce Willis and Samuel L Jackson.
I’m slightly concerned… Unbreakable was such a perfect standalone film that I’m wary of sequels. In hindsight it did something that NONE of the subsequent mainstream superhero films have done, which is to treat the superhero genre with the subtlety and maturity it deserves. It’s so low-key it can hardly be called a superhero film at all.
Unbreakable also crystallised Shyamalan’s unique approach. At his peak (Signs, The Village) he was a master at recontextualising hokey, pulpy plots into quite emotional and spiritual experiences. Like Tarantino, he was a master of merging high and low art approaches. I’m a staunch defender of his peak films.
Crucially, however, I think his approach was maybe too subtle. His first major success, The Sixth Sense, had a novelty to it that carried it, where the follow ups didn’t. It’s all too easy to see how he can be dismissed as the guy who makes dumb films about aliens who are allergic to water.
I was with him until Lady In The Water (2006), which just went too lofty, too corny. My interest in his stuff diminished rapidly after that and I’ve never really kept up with him since then.
But for a few years at the turn of the millennium, I really believe he was a red hot talent with a unique voice. Let’s hope Split and Glass are a return to form and don’t spoil the legacy of Unbreakable.
metal mickey says
“Split” is about half a terrific film, that spends most of its time as a gripping thriller, with James McAvoy’s split-personality kidnapper a compelling antagonist, and an impressive air of creeping dread throughout… then (vague spoilers ahoy) it totally lost me as the supernatural stuff kicked in towards the end, before (literally) the last minute revealed it to be in the same universe as “Unbreakable”, and it got me back… after a string of flops, this was MNS’s attempt to get back into the mainstream with an incredibly cheap movie that made a lot of money, and gave him his ticket to get “Glass” made, and I hope it will be a good pay-off…
John Walters says
Okay. Downloaded Unbeakable and Split onto my Skybox this evening.
I’ll report back.
Arthur Cowslip says
It’s early days, but one response all morning suggests the answer to my question is: No. No, there is no love for M Knight Shyamalan.
TrypF says
I well remember going to see the Sixth Sense and being impressed, not only by the fairly novel twist, but by its emotional resonance. The three figures hanging in the schoolroom will stay with me. I haven’t sen Unbreakable but on your recommendation will give it a go. My favourite’s The Village – panned at the time but one of those films I’ll watch til the end when it’s on TV. You can drive a JCB through some of the plot holes but I just don’t care – again it’s the relationships that carry it.
Sniffity says
I feel kinda sorry for the poor guy. The success of The Sixth Sense worked against him in a big way; its USP was “Wait till you get to the big twist!” Every film he’s made since has had the expectation of an unforeseen plot twist weighing down on it, to the point where audiences* would rather sit there trying to figure out the twist before it comes, instead of just enjoying it on its own terms
Has any modern director had such a burden bearing down on them? Once upon a time, a director might do a drama, then a musical, then a comedy, whatever….not poor M. There’s only one kind of film studios and audiences will let him make.
Of course, I could have this all wrong (for all I know, it’s the only kind of film he likes to make, in which case I’m a complete numpty).
* the would-be Barry Normans/Alexander Walkers I’ve come across, anyway.**
** use Pauline Kael (US) or David Stratton (AU) as applies.
Arthur Cowslip says
i suppose the Sixth Sense is the equivalent of his one hit wonder that has scuppered his career!
Leicester Bangs says
*spoilers ahead*
What a great opening post. Cheers, Arthur. Yeah, I loved Unbreakable, and it’s dumbfounding that it’s so poorly thought of. I saw it without knowing a single thing about it (other than ‘M Night’, ‘Bruce’), and there was a moment in the cinema where it suddenly dawned on me that I was watching a superhero origin movie. As you say, it was so beautifully and subtly done. Personally I think it’s far better film than The Sixth Sense (and I love The Sixth Sense) and I’ll always be grateful for that moment of profound revelation.
Funnily enough, I felt it again, watching Split. Again, thanks heavens I didn’t know what to expect. It’s not an especially well put together film, and I thought it dragged in the second act, and as Metal Mickey says, the sudden display of ‘powers’ left me cold. But then — bok! — the reveal had me levitating.
Watching the trailer for Glass I’m beyond excited. But then he can’t pull off the same trick a third time — the trick being, ‘You think you’re watching this genre of film, no you’re actually watching *this* genre of film!’
Locust says
I’ve liked every film of his that I’ve seen (but the last one I saw was The Village), and Unbreakable is the best one. I’ve heard some promising buzz about this new one.
I missed the twist in The Sixth Sense, because I assumed he was a ghost all through watching the movie, and didn’t know that I wasn’t supposed to know that! 🙂
Arthur Cowslip says
I have to say I spotted the twist in Sixth Sense straight away, but that was probably because I had been primed to look for a twist coming.
I thought it was interesting that Fight Club, which came out around the same period, actually benefitted from this. The weight carried by Sixth Sense being ‘that film with the twist’ meant few people went into Fight Club expecting a twist — which made it much more powerful and unexpected when it happened. I still remember that thrill I got when IT happened…. ‘Whaaaaaa……??!!’
H.P. Saucecraft says
” … to treat the superhero genre with the subtlety and maturity it deserves.”
What the superhero genre deserves is a damn good kicking.
Arthur Cowslip says
Not a fan, then? Ha ha.
I love the heavy, mythic side to the superhero genre, when utilised properly. Superhero comics (and movies now) are populist fluff in the main, but as a whole it’s a mountain of fascinating data about modern humanity. What makes us human? What is a hero? What is justice? Etc
Have you read Watchmen?