A poster has arrived for M. Night Shyamalan’s upcoming psychological thriller Split, and it comes with a warning.
Split stars James McAvoy as schizophrenic psychopath Kevin, who harbours 23 warring personalities. After kidnapping three young women (including The Witch’s Anya Taylor-Joy), Kevin gradually begins to reveal a 24th identity he calls ‘The Beast’.
Co-starring are Betty Buckley (Carrie, The Happening), Kim Director (Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2) and Haley Lu Richardson (The Last Survivors). Shyamalan wrote and directed the film, and also produces alongside Marc Bienstock (The Visit) and Blumhouse head honcho Jason Blum.
The previously released trailer looks promising and the film – the title of which neatly describes its director’s effect on audiences – could be the one to firmly re-establish Shayamalan’s credibility among genre fans. Read on for the full official synopsis:
While the mental divisions of those with dissociative identity disorder have long fascinated and eluded science, it is believed that some can also manifest unique physical attributes for each personality, a cognitive and physiological prism within a single being.
Though Kevin (McAvoy) has evidenced 23 personalities to his trusted psychiatrist, Dr. Fletcher (Buckley), there remains one still submerged who is set to materialise and dominate all the others. Compelled to abduct three teenage girls led by the wilful, observant Casey (Taylor-Joy), 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.
Words: Kevan Farrow (@KevanX)
