Warning: Spoilers for Unbreakable The Village, Split and Glass Follow.
In the nearly 20 years since 1999's The Sixth Sense M. Night Shyamalan's career trajectory has been as dramatic, twisty and unusual as any of his films; he's gone from critically acclaimed, Oscar-nominated auteur to a filmmaker whose name in a movie trailer elicited laughs from audiences. In recent years he's made a moderate comeback. He's a cautionary tale of how early success can be a mixed blessing, especially when your ego goes unchecked but also an example of perseverance in the face of intense criticism. I have a nostalgic soft spot for Shyamalan since Signs (2002) was a big deal for 13 year old me, even though I acknowledge the flaws of its ending. I've always liked his combination of European formalism and familiar genre tropes, resulting in what could be called Art-House Blockbusters, more The Exorcist (1973) and Rosemary's Baby (1968) then other genre films that were coming out in Shyamalan's hey-day.
I'd argue Shyamlan's best film is his follow-up to The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable (2000). The film tells the story of a seemingly ordinary man named David Dunn (Bruce Willis), who becomes not the sole survivor of a horrific train accident but is miraculously unharmed. He is contacted by Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson), a man who has "brittle bone disease," making his bones easily breakable, placing him on the opposite end of the spectrum from David. Elijah believes comic book characters walk the earth and that David is one of them. By film's end David has accepted his identity as a superhero. It's also revealed that Elijah caused the train accident as well as other acts of terrorism.
While Unbreakable was overshadowed at the time by The Sixth Sense, in the years since its stature has risen. I actually think its twist ending is even better than the former's ending. For me, what makes Unbreakable's ending brilliant is how it's not simply a villain reveal; it's about finding one's purpose. As Elijah tells David, "Now that we know who we are, I know who I am." Elijah says he should've known he was the villain since as a child the other kids called him "Mr. Glass." Elijah is such a sympathetic character that the ending becomes oddly touching. Despite Elijah's horrific acts, when he says "I wasn't a mistake," it's deeply moving. At his best Shyamalan is able to communicate the deep sadness within his characters with a simple line.
Shyamlan had discussed the possibility of a Unbreakable sequel for years and in 2017 he snuck in a secret sequel in to theatres with Split, about a man named Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy) who has over 20 different personalities including a hidden one called "The Beast," who has superhuman abilities, and is compelled to kidnap three teenage girls. Kevin is on the run at the film's end and in a post-credit scene Willis shows up to basically say "Hey, it's a sequel to Unbreakable."
Glass is the third part of Shyamlan's trilogy, and picks up not too long after Split. David, now being called the "Overseer" online is attempting to find Kevin, who has kidnapped more young women. David eventually finds Kevin but is arrested along with Kevin and placed in the same psychiatrist hospital as Elijah. Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson) believes the three men are under the delusion they are superheroes and wants to convince them they're normal people.
Doubt is a major theme in this film, how the power of it can prevent us from accepting who we truly are. It's eventually revealed that Staple is part of a global conspiracy to prevent the world from ever learning about super-powered beings. She says the Clover Organization doesn't take sides. They're not pro-hero or pro-villains. This revelation expands the scope of this universe and while I wish there was more build up and background regarding this organization- and it doesn't completely fit in with my mental image of Unbreakable, I think it does thematically fit the world Shyamalan has built for his characters. In a more realistic universe the concept of superheroes would be threatening and there'd be attempt to eliminate or cover-up their existence.
It's also revealed that Kevin's father died in the same train accident that David survived. It's a huge coincidence I think it works it's supposed to be an amazing display of fate. I also believe it's supposed to parallel the scene in Watchmen where Dr. Manhattan discovers Laurie is the daughter of Silk Spectre and The Comedian. It's also Shyamlan saying because of Elijah's illness, because of simple chance, that everything has led to this moment. How fate brings us together has always been one of Shymalan's thematic and emotional concerns. The ending of Signs was all about seemingly coincidental details that had deeper meaning and purpose. Willis' child psychologist Dr. Malcolm Crowe in The Sixth Sense failed to understand his patient Vincent Grey was seeing the dead, which led to Vincent killing him. Malcolm then comes back as a ghost to help another child, Cole Sear deal with the same ability. And if David had never been on the train, Elijah may have never found his opposite.
Elijah's plan is to make Staple and David believe he and Kevin are going to attack a building about to be unveiled. Elijah's real end game to capture on video a fight outside the hospital between David and the Horde (the name given to Kevin and his personalities).
Glass reminds me of Shyamalan's 2004 film The Village, which set itself up as a "creatures in the woods" thriller set in the 1800s that would climax with a confrontation in the woods between Joaquin Phoenix's character Lucius and the monsters. It not only doesn't deliver that climax but also reveals the village is in a park in modern day Philadelphia. It was created by people who wanted to escape the horrors of 20th Century life.) At the end of the film the status quo is maintained whereas Glass' ending has the truth revealed to the world about superheroes.
Glass sets us up for a big climax similar to that of The Avengers, and I'd argue Shyamalan structures this film similarly to that first Avengers film. Both have a middle act where the characters are all in one location, interacting with each other and being psychologically played with by the villain, the villain in this case being Staple, not Elijah. The film is in someways an anti-narrative, building up towards something that never comes and I feel the disappointment in the film from many comes from how David is killed off unceremoniously, drowned in a puddle. But I'd say that's Shyamalan's intention, to disappoint you, to make you feel bitter towards the tragedy and reality of superheroes in the real world. Usually it's the superheroes are maintaining the status quo but here it's the presence of superheroes that ultimately challenge it.
The film leaves us with the question of what happens when the truth is revealed. Will it cause more harm than good, will it cause chaos? I think what's truly important is these men existed- and they deserve to have their stories known. Elijah's mother (Charlayne Woodward) David's son Joseph (Spencer Treat Clark), and Casey Cooke (Anya Taylor Joy), who formed a connection with Kevin while being held captive, are the ones who spread the video. I believe Shyamalan is saying those closest to us are the ones who will ultimately tell our stories, good or bad. Mrs. Price turned Elijah on to comic books, which led to his actions, so its appropriate she show the world a live action comic and continue on his legacy. And while Shyamalan broke out with The Sixth Sense, this trilogy may be his most lasting legacy as a filmmaker.
