M. Night Shyamalan was maligned for ten years between 2004 and 2014 for serving up box office catastrophes, but since 2015 he seems to be back to form.

Both The Visit and Split were critically successful despite their modest budgets, and fans have been happy to invite Shyamalan back into their good graces in recent years. Then comes Glass, the sequel no fan knew they wanted until it was teased at the end of Split. Not just one of Shyamalan’s most beloved films was getting a sequel—but now he’d put together a trilogy starring David Dunn, Mr. Glass, and The Beast. The stage was set for a full-on fan service delight, and it delivered—on the surface.

Certain fans will notice that Mr. Glass isn’t in the movie much. The movie is called Glass, but he doesn’t say a word until well past the first hour mark. We don’t get to see him working behind the scenes or plotting a scheme before then either. He’s just sitting in a wheelchair. That’s not to say that Samuel L. Jackson doesn’t bring his all to this character. He embodies Elijah Price just as thoroughly as he did in Unbreakable, but he can only do so much with what he’s given, which ultimately, wasn’t much.

So what is this movie about? Well, Dr. Ellie Staple (played by Sarah Paulson) apprehends David Dunn and The Beast (played by Bruce Willis and James McAvoy, respectively) and is charged with convincing them that they are not superhuman; they are, in fact, delusional. Meanwhile, Mr. Glass has a plan he’s been waiting to hatch—and The Beast might have a part to play, too.

The stand-out performance comes from James McAvoy, who plays The Beast, as well as Kevin Crumb and multiple other personalities we are introduced to throughout the movie. This is really The Beast’s movie, and McAvoy is a spectacle to behold. In Split, we experienced a handful of Crumb’s personalities, but this time we get to see 13 identities all brimming with charisma and perplexity. McAvoy skillfully transitions from one persona to the next in a masterclass of acting. The movie is worth watching just for these scenes alone.

Bruce Willis is in this movie, too, and darn it if he isn’t acting his heart out—at least as much as he’s capable of doing these days. He’s stiff, awkward, and unconvincing, but there’s a sincerity in his performance that softens the heart a little. It really seems like he gives a shit. He’s just not very good.

The cinematography was flawless. At his best, Shyamalan has always utilized creative camera movements and angles that accentuate a scene, and Glass is no exception. Director of Photography Mike Gioulakis (It Follows, Split, Us) brings smooth, beautiful compositions to even the smallest moments. The slow-ish pacing of the script is completely masked by the fluid, sweeping camera movements that take us from scene to scene.

Still, we have to discuss the script, as it’s easily the weakest element of the film. Shyamalan seems to have a very academic perspective on how people talk to each other (I call it “Sham-speak”), wherein one uses the utmost correct words rather than the most natural. As an example, there’s a scene where Shyamalan has a cameo, and he’s talking to Willis’s character, David Dunn. It goes something like this:

SHYAMALAN

Hey, you look familiar—did you used to work at the old stadium a few years back?

DAVID DUNN

Yup, 30 years.

SHYAMALAN

Yeah, I recognize you. I used to hang around there in my youth. Ran with a tough crowd. But I turned it all around—positive thinking.

DAVID DUNN

*silence*

SHYAMALAN

*silence*

Reading that in your head, did it sound like a normal, organic conversation? Probably not. It’s even worse on screen. You can look past the clunky dialog and awkward-as-hell pop-culture references, but it does take you out of the movie from time to time.

If you loved Split, odds are you’re going to like this movie. McAvoy’s performance alone makes this film worth a casual view, but Unbreakable fans will be pleased to see Spencer Treat Clark and Charlayne Woodard reprising their roles as supporting characters. The dialogue is awkward, the cinematography is beautiful, and the twist ending might leave a bit to be desired. But if you go into the theater with an open mind and temper your expectations, you’ll more than likely enjoy it.

Rating: ⚡⚡⚡

Ahmed Ashour is a media writer, tech enthusiast, and college student. He has a Twitter: @aahsure

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