Logan Sork Film Reviews
Glass
To say that M. Night Shyamalan’s superhero films are traditional would be a lie. With both Unbreakable (2000) and Split (2016), Shyamalan surprised audiences with his take on the concept of super abilities and the way he grounded them in the real world. Shyamalan’s two previous entries collide with Glass as Shyamalan continues the tale of super humans living in the real world. While there are some problems to be found in Glass, I personally feel it ends the trilogy not in the way that everyone would like it to, but in a way that feels befitting to a trilogy defined by it’s willingness to be unconventional.
Glass is written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan and is the final installment in the trilogy that includes Unbreakable and Split. The film takes place weeks after the events of Split and sees Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy) abducting a group of girls to be sacrificed to The Beast, his twenty-fourth personality. He is tracked down by David Dunn (Bruce Willis), who has been acting as a vigilante known as the Overseer for 19 years. As David battles the Beast and frees the group of girls, they are both taken in by a group of mercenaries led by Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson). They are then transported to a mental institution where it is revealed that Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson), David’s former friend turned nemesis Mr. Glass, is also being held in the facility. Dr. Staple tells the three that they are there to be evaluated based on their insane believe that they possess superhuman abilities. As Dr. Staple works to destroy their beliefs, Elijah hatches a plan of his own to not only escape but to prove that he isn’t insane and show the world that heroes, and villains, really do exist.
There are a lot of good elements to be found in Glass, chief among them being the idea. This trilogy has never been one to conform to norms of superhero films. Unbreakable played more like a serious drama about self-discovery, while Split played like a supernatural monster thriller. Glass continues this trend of difference as it plays more like a psychological thriller more than a big explosive film that would normally conclude a trilogy. This works to the film’s strength as it provides audiences with something different than other superhero films would normally do, which is something seen throughout the whole trilogy. Rather than focusing on the action (which is quite good when it happens) Shyamalan opts to focus on the psychology of our leads. As Dr. Staple gives logical reasons for their seemingly remarkable abilities, some of them begin to doubt if they are truly gifted. This idea of the heroes and villains questioning whether or not they are truly gifted is something that very few films discuss. The emphasis on doubt also plays up the overarching theme of embracing who you are, which is seen throughout the entire trilogy. This emphasis on psychological evaluation and self-doubt is something that not only makes the film unique but also gives a powerful message that helps connect it with the rest of the trilogy on a deeper level.
The film’s technical elements are also good overall. Much like Split, Shyamalan makes great use of mostly one location. The facility in which these characters are kept is not only normal, but also unique in the way that each character has their own room set up to defend against their powers. It is unusual yes, but it’s also a lot of fun. Shyamalan also does a lot of cool things involving color and the coordination of certain colors and shades based on certain characters and motifs set up with the previous films. The film’s production design and costumes are also excellent, as they convey a seemingly normal world, but exaggerate certain elements and design features that make the film feel like a grounded comic book story. The cinematography is also unique, in that Shyamalan uses multiple different techniques when it comes to shooting certain scenes. Sometimes he will utilize long unbroken takes, while in the next scene he will cut in an odd manner of using symmetrical close ups of each character. This maybe off-putting to some, I even thought that myself, but it’s so different that I can’t help but compliment Shyamalan for his ideas.
The cast is also fantastic, with all of the returning performers knocking it out of the park. Of all of the actors, James McAvoy is still the most impressive as he brings the same manic energy that he brought in Split with his seamless changes between personalities within the span of a single shot being a pure joy to watch. Willis is also great as unlike most of his recent films he actually gives a committed performance, giving us some emotionally powerful scenes for David Dunn’s character. And while Samuel L. Jackson doesn’t say much for a while, once he starts talking- he’s simply fantastic. The supporting cast is also excellent, with the returning cast members really stealing the show.
While there is a lot to like about Glass, there are unfortunately some problems that keep the film from being great. The film has a lot of problems found in Shyamalan’s other films, including this trilogy, including overwritten dialogue, unnatural exposition and other weird directing choices. There is also a certain character who feels sidelined in the film. I won’t give it away, but the character’s arc is a disappointing conclusion, and could’ve easily been rectified with some additional screen time. In fact the whole film could’ve been improved had more time been allowed to explore certain characters and aspects regarding the twist. Speaking of the twist, that is also a mixed bag as far as I’m concerned. On one hand, you have some elements that help make the conclusion more interesting. On the other, it feels totally out of left field and was not built up in any other films, which makes it feel lazy and unearned.
So, is Glass perfect? No. Are there problems? Plenty. However, despite these problems, the film still manages to be unique and original, something that is hard to find these days. With great performances, great technical elements and a charmingly unusual feel to the film, Glass concludes M. Night Shyamalan’s revisionist superhero trilogy not in a way that everyone will like, but in a way that feels fitting.
7/10