Glass May Shatter but Shyamalan Keeps it Sharp

At this rate, you either know the name M. Night Shyamalan or not. The same man who made a name for himself with the haunting but heartfelt ghost-story The Sixth Sense, took a spin at the comic book genre before it became popular in Unbreakable, and was proclaimed the next Spielberg with the sci-fi thriller Signs. This is also the same man whose career took a downturn starting with The Village, the well-intended but maligned Lady in the Water, the horrific but unintentionally hilarious The Happening, and the final nail in the coffin known as The Last Airbender. 

Required viewing

While the found footage flick The Visit didn't fully win audiences back, it got a better reception than the dull sci-fi adventure that was After Earth. The psychological thriller Split was the first Shyamalan movie to earn a positive response in a long time and have audiences excited for his next project as the twist revealed both Split and Unbreakable take place in the same universe.

David Dunn as the Overseer

Nineteen years have passed since David Dunn (Bruce Willis) discovered his super-powered strength and had comic-book enthusiast Elijah Price (Samuel L Jackson) locked away. With the help of his son Joseph (Spencer Treat Clark), David continues to fight crime in the shadows as the hooded vigilante The Overseer. Three weeks have passed since the events of Split and Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy) also known as The Horde due to his multiple personalities is at it again with conducting a series of kidnappings that David is able to track down. The two meet with a fight ensuing, only to end with the super-powered pair captured by the authorities.

Dr. Ellie Staple

Bringing them into question is Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson), a therapist who specializes in deluded individuals who perceive themselves as superheroes. Joining in on the treatment is an elderly Elijah Price, who appears to be have mellowed down these past years. Then comes the reunion with David and introduction to Kevin that Elijah makes his move and formulates a master plan. This time, under the name of Mr. Glass.   

The Horde in Beast Mode. 

Mr. Glass may be a mastermind in all this but the real mastermind here is Shyamalan himself. Both Glass and Split had been in the making since Shyamalan made Unbreakable back in 2000 but didn't come into fruition due to Unbreakable not making enough money and the studio's lack of interest in superhero movies. The character of Kevin Crumb was originally set to appear in Unbreakable but was cut out due to Shyamalan wanting to focus more on David's story. A decision that worked in his favor sixteen years later with superhero movies now being the center in cinema. Split surprised us as a super villain origin story in disguise just like how Unbreakable was later revealed as a superhero origin story when it first premiered.

First name Mr.
Last Name Glass. 

Glass combines Split's horror and comedy traits with Unbreakable's somber and quiet tone to create a psychological superhero movie. An aspect I like in Shyamalan's work as his movies are set in a normal world like ours and sprinkled with a fictional element of some sort whether it be fantasy (Lady in the Water) paranormal (The Sixth Sense) or extra-terrestrial (Signs) but still grounded in reality. It makes for an engaging watch despite it mostly set in a Psyche ward that might bore viewers hoping for the usual superhero action spectacle. It's thanks to Shyamalan's writing that keeps us invested in the conversations and story as we witness the debate of whether these superhero feats are real and the meta-insight on comic books and their troupes.

Joseph Dunn, Casey Cooke, and Mrs. Price. 

Willis as David Dunn remains as the reserved but courageous hero though his final arc is one of the weaker aspects of the movie that I wished could have been done more with. McAvoy continues to intensify as Kevin Krumb, juggling between the plethora of personalities that even if the film doesn't impress you, it is worth watching for McAvoy's mad performance. Though he says or does nothing for the first hour, Jackson commands the screen with just his presence alone. We are told he is heavily sedated to prevent his intuitive mind from working but one can't help but wonder what is really going on up there.

Along with Spencer Trey Clark, other returning cast members include Charlayne Woodard as Elijah's mother from Unbreakable and Anya Taylor-Joy as Casey Cooke who survived Kevin's beastly rampage from Split. The three serve an integral part of the story and make good use of their time together but of all the conversations taking place like with Dr. Staples and her three patients, it would have been fascinating to hear Joseph, Casey and Mrs. Price talking with one another on the ordeal. The relationship they have with the three main characters, the impact its had on them, what they fear/hope for them and a counterargument with Dr. Staples; the possibilities are endless but the movie doesn't take that chance. A missed opportunity to see someone like Casey having a conversation with David. That would have been cool.

The ending is sure to cause quite an uproar but what Shyamalan movie hasn't. Some will love it but others won't. I for one, loved it.

Glass is pure Shyamalan cinema featuring at his best and worst but the end result much better in recent years. It may not impress the masses but shows Shyamalan for the unique filmmaker he is.

Final Verdict: B+