As a die-hard fan of M. Night Shyamalan’s intricate storytelling and unique filmmaking style, I can’t help but feel a tinge of disappointment that we won’t be revisiting the captivating world of “Glass” anytime soon. Having grown up watching his films, it feels like closing a chapter in my own cinematic journey.
Essentially, the “Split” movies, often referred to as the “Unbreakable” series, serve as a miniature reflection of director M. Night Shyamalan’s professional journey. These films are characterized by unexpected twists, peaks and troughs, immense potential, and significant setbacks that have left viewers debating about his future and what lies ahead for him. However, one thing is undeniable: the creation of this intricate universe of nearly heroic and villainous characters was more than a decade in development, and it took everyone by surprise.
How did M. Night Shyamalan’s nearly-winning film eventually lead to such an unanticipated trilogy? Let’s trace it back to the origin, when following the success of his modest project titled “The Sixth Sense,” Shyamalan teamed up with screen legend Bruce Willis once more and welcomed Samuel L. Jackson into the fold for what would become one of the most remarkable superhero films ever produced. This film, echoing Jackson’s other iconic comic book character, was part of a larger universe – we were simply unaware of it at the time. So, fasten your raincoats and tread carefully through those comic book sections as we delve into the ending of “Unbreakable.
Unbreakable was a comic book movie hiding in plain sight
Following “The Sixth Sense,” viewers were eagerly anticipating another mind-bending twist from M. Night Shyamalan, but what they got was not quite that. In actuality, David Dunn (played by Bruce Willis) emerged unscathed from the disastrous Eastrail 177 train crash because he possessed extraordinary strength and invincibility. This sets the stage for a superhero narrative that breaks away from the usual tropes of an ordinary individual gaining powers.
In the climax of the movie, Elijah Price (played by Jackson), a man obsessed with comic books and theories about spectra and heroes, unveils that his quest for his ultimate enemy transformed him into a homegrown terrorist. He detonated trains, planes, and crowded areas to provoke a hero’s emergence, aiming to fulfill the role of a supervillain. Unlike typical stories where good battles evil in a grand finale, Shyamalan’s tale doesn’t follow this pattern. Instead, David performs an ordinary act that has profound consequences. His action isn’t about self-sacrifice as usual, but rather his struggle to accept the truth about himself and most significantly, about who Elijah truly is.
David exposes Mr. Glass, effectively halting his pursuit of additional superheroes. This seems to make Glass the lone figure on duty, with any others like him remaining hidden for another 16 years.
Split wins the award for most shocking ending in the Glass trilogy
It’s been quite some time since M. Night Shyamalan initially presented David Dunn to us, so it came as quite a shock when we encountered him again at the end of “Split.” Fans were left reeling as Shyamalan led them on an intriguing journey with James McAvoy’s character, Kevin Wendell Crumb, revealing his villainous side. For the first time in years, Shyamalan delivered one of his signature plot twists, and all it took was Bruce Willis mentioning a name for everyone to drop their jaws in surprise.
Throughout the film, we’re led to believe Casey’s (Anya Taylor-Joy) nightmare is just another Shyamalan joint until Crumb, dubbed as “The Horde” by the authorities, makes the national news. In a local diner, a patron compares the incident to another event that took place years before, when a man was revealed to be a villain of a super standard. When she struggles to remember the name, David Dunn (Willis) from “Unbreakable” chimes in from nowhere. “Mr Glass,” he says, before the film cuts to black. Shocking as it might be, it was all part of Shyamalan’s plan.
In an interview with Den of Geek, the director disclosed that the character portrayed in the film had actually been included in the original “Unbreakable” script, implying that much of what was shown on screen was penned 15 to 16 years ago. He also mentioned that he had always planned to develop this aspect into a separate movie someday. Of course, the storyline wasn’t concluded just then.
Glass splits its universe wide open
Just like “Unbreakable” showcased M. Night Shyamalan’s unique interpretation of a hero’s tale, the climax of “Glass” saw the culmination of the villain’s final standoff. In the closing act, all three characters associated with the Eastrail 177 crash meet their demise while under psychiatric care. The Beast, one of Kevin Wendell Crumb’s personas, discovers that Glass was behind the catastrophe and thus responsible for his father’s death. Enraged, The Beast assaults his creator before targeting David. In a dramatic turn, David and The Horde engage in combat with the latter appearing to have the advantage until Casey appeals to Kevin – the child persona within the group. Sadly, it is too late as Kevin is gunned down by a soldier, while another drowns David, exploiting his one vulnerability: water.
Dr. Ellie Staple, working for the enigmatic “Clover” organization, has been monitoring our trio and others like them for 10,000 years. Her aim was to prove their powers were illusory, but just as in any comic book tale, it’s the supporting characters who step up when the main ones are absent. In this case, it’s David’s son Joseph (Spencer Treat Clark), Casey, and Glass’ mother (Charlayne Woodard) who band together to reveal the truth about the company. As in many comic book narratives, even when heroes fall, their impact lingers on. These three release footage of the final confrontation that the villain was secretly recording all along.
Ultimately, Glass’ plan was successful, but neither he nor the rest of the inmates lived to see it.
Will M. Night Shyamalan ever have another crack at Glass?
In the concluding scene of “Glass”, a whistle is heard from an old group, hinting that beyond Glass, David, and Kevin, there may be other characters with extraordinary secrets wandering the world. However, according to M. Night Shyamalan, we likely won’t get to explore these additional heroes or villains in future stories. When asked by IndieWire if there was a possibility of revisiting that universe, Shyamalan admitted, “There’s no real risk in that. Or not enough risk, let’s put it that way.” As his subsequent projects demonstrated, the director had different creative pursuits in mind. “My strength isn’t about competing with special effects,” he explained. “I simply can’t do what movies like ‘Avengers’ do, I don’t even know how they pull it off!
Shyamalan retains control over the sequels for most of his films, so no one else can create a follow-up to “Split” without his approval. He clarified this point himself. Essentially, he chooses not to make sequels because he holds the rights. Therefore, any anticipation of revisiting the “Split” universe should be put aside.
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2024-09-19 21:00