Split Ending Explained: Unveiling the Mind-Bending Twist

M. Night Shyamalan’s psychological horror thriller Split, released in 2016, is a film that explores the complex nature of mental illness, specifically Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). The story is centered around a man named Kevin Wendell Crumb, who suffers from DID and has 23 distinct personalities. The film delves into Kevin’s traumatic past, his struggle with his own psyche, and the impact of his disorder on the people around him. Split’s ending, which features a surprise twist, has generated much discussion and analysis. In this article, we will provide a detailed explanation of the Split ending and the story that leads up to it.

Kevin Wendell Crumb and 23 personalities

The film Split revolves around Kevin Wendell Crumb, a man with DID who has 23 different personalities, each with its own unique characteristics, backstory, and agenda. These personalities reside within Kevin’s mind, and each one competes for control over his body. As a result, Kevin’s body undergoes drastic physical transformations depending on which personality is in control at the moment.

The film portrays the various personalities in a nuanced and complex way. Some of the personalities are benign and helpful, while others are malicious and dangerous. For example, Dennis is a sinister personality who kidnaps three teenage girls, Casey Cook, Claire Benoit, and Marcia, at the beginning of the film. Another personality, Patricia, is an obsessive-compulsive woman with an affinity for fashion and a cult-like devotion to a mysterious figure named “The Beast.”

The nature of Kevin’s mental disorder

Split depicts DID, which was previously known as multiple personality disorder, as a result of severe childhood trauma. Kevin’s father abandoned his family, and his mother was abusive, leading to the development of his disorder as a coping mechanism. The film explores the idea that some of Kevin’s personalities are morally stronger than he is, and that they exist to protect him from the cruelty he experienced as a child.

While the film takes some liberties with the disorder, it is largely accurate in its portrayal. Studies have shown that individuals with DID can have different physical parameters depending on which personality is in control at the moment. For example, different personalities can have different dominant hands, allergic reactions, color vision, pupil diameter, and intraocular pressure.

However, the film takes the concept of DID to an extreme, portraying Kevin’s transformation into a villainous entity called “The Beast” as a result of his disorder. The Beast is depicted as having superhuman strength, agility, and durability, with the ability to crawl on walls and ceilings and a seemingly invulnerable hide. The Beast’s creation is the result of the actions of Dennis and Patricia, who believe that the 24th personality will emerge as a superhuman being. The ending of Split revolves around the emergence of the Beast and the terror it unleashes.

Key personalities of Kevin in the movie “Split”

Split features several key personalities of Kevin, each with its own agenda and relationship to the others.

• Dennis: Dennis is the main antagonist of the film, responsible for the kidnapping of the three teenage girls. He is cold, calculating, and cruel, and he shows no remorse for his actions.
• Patricia: Patricia is a member of a group of personalities known as “the Horde,” who believe that the emergence of the Beast is imminent. She is highly intelligent, obsessed with cleanliness, and has a cult-like devotion to the Beast.
• Hedwig: Hedwig is a nine-year-old boy with a lisp who serves as a messenger between the Horde and the outside world. He is both innocent and manipulative, and he forms a bond with Casey, one of the kidnapped girls.
• Barry: Barry is an artist and one of the personalities who emerges as the dominant personality towards the end of the film. He is a kind, empathetic individual who tries to help the girls escape.
• Kevin: Kevin is the core personality who is struggling with his disorder and the emergence of the Beast. He is often overwhelmed by the other personalities and their agendas, and he tries to find a way to regain control of his body.

Who’s More Dangerous? Kevin Crumb?

In Split, the three kidnapped girls are forced to navigate through the complicated web of Kevin Wendell Crumb’s many personalities, each with their own unique characteristics and potential for danger. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that all of these personalities are under the control of an even more powerful entity known as “The Beast,” a superhuman persona that emerges when a specific set of conditions are met.

Fans of director M. Night Shyamalan’s previous film, Unbreakable, may have picked up on subtle clues and references to the earlier work throughout Split. For instance, the train that played a central role in Unbreakable is also referenced in Split. However, for viewers who were not familiar with the earlier film, Split can stand alone as a captivating exploration of a complex and fascinating character.

Despite the film’s focus on Kevin’s mental illness and the various personalities it creates, Split also has elements of horror and suspense. The audience is left wondering which personality is the most dangerous, and whether or not the girls will be able to escape before “The Beast” emerges. The tension builds to a shocking climax that leaves viewers eager for more.

The twist ending of Split

The twist ending of Split left audiences stunned and breathless. After the tense and terrifying climax, where the Beast brutally attacks and kills several people, including Casey’s abusive uncle, the film takes a sudden turn, revealing that it takes place in the same universe as M. Night Shyamalan’s earlier film, Unbreakable.

Unbreakable is a superhero drama film that tells the story of David Dunn, a security guard who discovers that he has superhuman strength and durability. The film ends with David accepting his destiny to protect people from harm and becoming a superhero. Split’s twist ending connects the two films in a way that no one saw coming, setting up a potential crossover that had fans of both films buzzing with excitement.

The connection between the two films is revealed in the final moments of Split when a diner patron mentions the name “Mr. Glass” as she watches a news report about the events of the film. This name refers to Elijah Price, the villain of Unbreakable, who had brittle bone disease and was obsessed with finding a real-life superhero. The implication is that the Beast’s creation is a result of a supernatural event that also gave David his abilities, linking the two films’ narratives.

This connection sets the stage for the 2019 film Glass, which brings David and Kevin’s storylines together, along with Elijah Price, creating an epic crossover event. The film explores the consequences of the events in Unbreakable and Split, bringing the characters together for a final showdown.

Glass reveals that the events in Split and Unbreakable were orchestrated by Elijah Price, who had discovered the existence of people with extraordinary abilities and wanted to expose them to the world. The film explores the psychological ramifications of having superhuman abilities and the impact that they can have on the people around them.

The significance of the twist ending

The twist ending of Split has significant implications for the film’s portrayal of DID and its connection to other movies in M. Night Shyamalan’s filmography. The revelation that the creation of the Beast is not a result of Kevin’s disorder but rather a supernatural event is a departure from the real-life experience of individuals with DID. While the film portrays DID in a largely accurate way, it takes liberties with the disorder to create a fantastical narrative that blurs the line between reality and fiction.

The twist ending raises questions about the nature of mental illness and the relationship between trauma and superhuman abilities. It suggests that there may be a connection between the two and opens up possibilities for future stories that could explore this theme further. The Beast’s emergence as a superhuman entity implies that there may be others like him, individuals who have undergone extreme trauma and have developed extraordinary abilities as a result.

The connection between Split and Unbreakable adds another layer of complexity to the film’s exploration of mental illness and trauma. Unbreakable tells the story of David Dunn, a man who discovers he has superhuman strength and durability after surviving a train crash. The connection between the two films suggests that trauma can lead to the development of superhuman abilities, whether it be physical strength or a transformative alter ego like the Beast.

This connection also opens up possibilities for future crossovers between films. Shyamalan has confirmed that he plans to continue exploring this universe with a third film, Glass, which will bring together the characters from Split and Unbreakable. The twist ending of Split sets the stage for this crossover and establishes a shared universe that could lead to even more connections between films.

What’s The Theme Of ‘Split’?

Continuing on the theme of Split, the movie is not only focused on DID, but also explores the theme of abuse. The commonality between the protagonist and antagonist of Split is that both were victims of childhood abuse. For Casey, the abuse manifests in her desire to be alone with silence as her coping mechanism. Kevin’s case is more extreme, and his repression of the pain he experienced led to the birth of new personalities to cope with the trauma. The movie touches on other dark matters as well, including pedophilia, as shown in a series of flashbacks where Casey is taught to hunt by her father, who is later revealed to have horrifically abused her at the hands of her uncle. The film effectively portrays how such trauma affects the lives of those who experience it, and the director, M. Night Shyamalan, conveys that people who suffer from mental health issues often view themselves as alone, not seeing their connection to the wider world.

Final Thoughts

Split is a film that explores the complex nature of mental illness and the impact it has on the people who suffer from it and those around them. The film’s portrayal of DID is largely accurate, but it takes liberties with the disorder to create a story about a man who transforms into a superhuman entity. The film’s twist ending connects it to M. Night Shyamalan’s earlier film, Unbreakable, and sets up a potential crossover that was eventually realized in the 2019 film Glass. The connection between the two films raises questions about the nature of DID and the relationship between trauma and superhuman abilities. Split is a thought-provoking film that leaves the audience with much to ponder long after the credits have rolled.

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