Split portrays the story of Kevin, a man suffering from the twenty-three personalities that characterize his condition, Dissociative Identity Disorder. The movie shows how Kevin copes with these personalities, each one with a different mental or physical state. Some of these personalities stand out more than others, and the story begins when one particularly dangerous alternate takes the lead. Kevin kidnaps three teenage girls and hold them captive. This movie shows the terror of dissociative identity disorder with outstanding writing, directing, and acting skills.
The writing of the script is an important aspect of the movie. The dialogue that goes on between the characters makes it very clear to the viewer what the plot is and the different voices that come within is a brilliant move done to make it look believable. To have an identity disorder there is always a dominant personality within the person and the script really supported that by showing the two most dangerous personalities “Dennis” and “Patricia”.
“Dennis” has control of Kevin when the character is first introduced, and he is shown as a frightening man who wears plain clothing and glasses. He is described as having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, so everything ha to be set perfectly and clean all the time. Meanwhile, the other threatening identity is different and the fact that they made the character against the first one Dennis connected very thoroughly. “Patricia”, a British woman wearing a dress and heels. And acts like the mother figure to the kidnapped girls by protecting them from “Dennis” by restraining his inappropriate actions.
Moving on to the acting, It is impossible to introduce Kevin without mentioning the many identities that he carries along. The acting was so professional that it made it seem true that he is all of these personalities and the true personality of Kevin is not seen much in the movie, but when he is in control he is shown as a delicate man, burdened with the struggles of his childhood. To make it interesting the actor adapts a 24 personality at the end, a rational superhuman animal feared by all other personalities known as “The Beast”. This identity is the most dangerous and attacks and eats people with animal manners.
The visual management and directing that consisted of clothing, makeup, style, and scene arrangements were used very smoothly to show the different personalities. Throughout the movie, several of Kevin’s many personalities are introduced and their individual perceptions are embellished through certain clothing and preferences. Each personality has a certain look that shows the vibe of each one. For example Hedwig, a nine year old boy, wears bright yellow. Another one is orwen, a historian who wears typical reading glasses high waisted pants with a belt and a fuzzy sweater.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Threatening Personality. (2023, Jan 11). Retrieved from https://paperap.com/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-threatening-personality/