News

Interview: M. Night Shyamalan talks Split: “I wanted to break genres with this film.”

Published

7 years ago

January 1, 2017

M. Night Shyamalan is in the midst of a comeback. The writer-director of the blockbuster films Signs and The Sixth Sense has found new life in the world of low budget horror. “The biggest advantage of working with smaller budgets is that I have total creative freedom,” says Shyamalan. “There’s no financial pressure, compared to my previous films, and I can pursue ideas that might be considered offensive if I was making a one hundred million dollar film.”

Shyamalan’s last film, 2015’s The Visit, brought the writer-director his best reviews in more than a decade. The Visit was also a big commercial success, especially compared to its five million dollar production budget. Now Shyamalan has reteamed with The Visit’s producer, low budget maven Jason Blum, on Split, a psychological horror film inspired by Shyamalan’s long fascination with the concept of multiple personalities. “I’ve always been interested in how the brain works, and I’ve always been intrigued by DID [Dissociative identity disorder],” says Shyamalan. “I’ve always been fascinated with the elements of psychology and why we believe what we believe.”

In Split, James McAvoy plays Kevin, a man whose mind houses more than twenty different personalities, twenty-four to be exact. “It was a difficult role, and I needed an actor with an incredible skill set,” says Shyamalan. “I first met James when he was promoting the last X-Men film at the 2015 Comic-Con, and when I saw him he had approximately half an inch of hair on his head. This gave him an appearance that was easily adaptable to various characters, personalities. He looked like he could become anyone he wanted to, which was perfect, in terms of what I was looking for.”

In September, I had the chance to talk to Shyamalan by phone about the diverse cinematic influences and techniques he brought to Split, his long fascination with human psychology, and the surprising career shift he’s experienced in recent years.

DG: Where did the idea for Split come from?

M. Night Shyamalan: I’d had the idea for several years. I keep journals, which are filled with ideas for possible films, and one of those journals was full of ideas about split personality disorders. I’ve always been intrigued by DID, multiple personality disorder, and how the brain works. I’d say that my biggest genre influence was The Silence of the Lambs, which is one of my favorite films.

DG: Where do Kevin’s multiple personalities come from?

M. Night Shyamalan: Kevin’s childhood was full of abuse and trauma, and the different personalities entered him at different points in his life to help him cope with what was happening to him. Kevin, the real Kevin, is a very kind man. The personalities inside of him cover a wide range of emotions. Some of them are very entertaining, fun people, and some of them aren’t much fun to be around.

DG: Why did you pick James to play the role of Kevin?

M. Night Shyamalan: I knew this was a daunting role, and I knew that I needed an actor who possessed a vast range of skills. I needed an actor who could have a squeaky voice in one scene, be a woman in another scene. I needed someone who could change not only their voice throughout the film but also their physicality.

DG: How does Kevin’s physicality change in the film?

M. Night Shyamalan: DID patients have demonstrated an ability to change their body chemistry, change physically. It’s about believing you’re someone else, first of all, and then pretending that you have extraordinary abilities. For example, DID patients might believe that they possess great strength, which will make them lift heavy weights they ordinarily wouldn’t be able to lift. With Split, I wanted to explore what would happen if a DID patient like Kevin believed that they possessed supernatural powers. What would happen then? Is it possible? This was the foundation for the script.

DG: How would you describe Kevin’s relationship with his psychologist, Dr. Fletcher, played by Betty Buckley?

M. Night Shyamalan: She tries to help Kevin compact all of his personalities into one being. She’s done extensive research into DID, and she recognizes that Kevin is an extraordinary case. She believes that some DID patients can change their body chemistry, an idea that is dismissed by her colleagues. Different personalities visit her at different times. Some aren’t allowed to see Dr. Fletcher.

DG: Is there a supernatural explanation for what happens to Kevin in the film?

M. Night Shyamalan: Maybe. These patients with DID can change their body chemistry. They believe this. A patient who believes they’re a 250 pound weightlifter will exhibit incredible feats of strength, which defies belief. That’s what happens with DID patients. What if someone with DID thought they had supernatural powers? That’s the approach I took.

Split opens in theaters on January 20.

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News

A24 Creating New Action Thriller “Onslaught” From ‘The Guest’ & ‘You’re Next’ Duo

Published

2 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Cameron McFarland

It’s always nice to see a reunion in the world of horror. Following a competitive bidding war, A24 has secured the rights to the new action thriller film Onslaught. Adam Wingard (Godzilla vs. Kong) will be directing the film. He will be joined by his longtime creative partner Simon Barret (You’re Next) as the scriptwriter.

For those unaware, Wingard and Barret made a name for themselves while working together on films such as You’re Next and The Guest. The two creatives are card carrying horror royalty. The pair have worked on films such as V/H/S, Blair Witch, The ABC’s of Death, and A Horrible Way to Die.

An exclusive article of out Deadline gives us the limited information we have on the topic. Although we don’t have much to go on, Deadline does offer the following information.

“Plot details are being kept under wraps but the film is in the vein of Wingard and Barrett’s cult classics like The Guest and You’re Next. Lyrical Media and A24 will co-finance. A24 will handle worldwide releasing. Principal photography will begin in Fall 2024.”

A24 will be producing the film alongside Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett for Ryder Picture Company, Alexander Black for Lyrical Media, Wingard and Jeremy Platt for Breakaway Civilization, and Simon Barret.

That’s all the information we have at this time. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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News

Director Louis Leterrier Creating New Sci-Fi Horror Film “11817”

Published

3 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Cameron McFarland

According to an article from Deadline, Louis Leterrier (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) is about to shake things up with his new Sci-Fi horror film 11817. Leterrier is set to produce and direct the new Movie. 11817 is penned by the glorious Mathew Robinson (The Invention of Lying).

Rocket Science will be taking the film to Cannes in search of a buyer. While we don’t know much about what the film looks like, Deadline offers the following plot synopsis.

“The film watches as inexplicable forces trap a family of four inside their house indefinitely. As both modern luxuries and life or death essentials begin to run out, the family must learn how to be resourceful to survive and outsmart who — or what — is keeping them trapped…”

“Directing projects where the audience gets behind the characters has always been my focus. However complex, flawed, heroic, we identify with them as we live through their journey,” said Leterrier. “It’s what excites me about 11817‘s wholly original concept and the family at the heart of our story. This is an experience that movie audiences won’t forget.”

Leterrier has made a name for himself in the past for working on beloved franchises. His portfolio includes gems such as Now You See Me, The Incredible Hulk, Clash of The Titans, and The Transporter. He is currently attached to create the final Fast and the Furious film. However, it will be interesting to see what Leterrier can do working with some darker subject material.

That’s all the information we have for you at this time. As always, make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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Lists

New to Netflix (U.S.) This Month [May 2024]

Published

5 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Timothy Rawles

atlas movie Netflix starring Jennifer Lopez

Another month means fresh additions to Netflix. Although there aren’t many new horror titles this month, there are still some notable movies well worth your time. For instance, you can watch Karen Black try to land a 747 jet in Airport 1979, or Casper Van Dien kill giant insects in Paul Verhoeven’s bloody sci-fi opus Starship Troopers.

We are looking forward to the Jennifer Lopez sci-fi action movie Atlas. But let us know what you are going to watch. And if we have missed something, put it in the comments.

May 1:

Airport

A blizzard, a bomb, and a stowaway help create the perfect storm for the manager of a Midwestern airport and a pilot with a messy personal life.

Airport ’75

^{Airport ’75}

When a Boeing 747 loses its pilots in a midair collision, a member of the cabin crew must take control with radio help from a flight instructor.

Airport ’77

A luxury 747 packed with VIPs and priceless art goes down in the Bermuda Triangle after being hijacked by thieves — and time for a rescue is running out.

Jumanji

Two siblings discover an enchanted board game that opens a door to a magical world — and unwittingly release a man who’s been trapped inside for years.

Hellboy

^Hellboy

A half-demon paranormal investigator questions his defense of humans when a dismembered sorceress rejoins the living to wreak brutal vengeance.

Starship Troopers

When fire-spitting, brain-sucking bugs attack Earth and obliterate Buenos Aires, an infantry unit heads to the aliens’ planet for a showdown.

May 9

Bodkin

^Bodkin

A ragtag crew of podcasters sets out to investigate mysterious disappearances from decades earlier in a charming Irish town with dark, dreadful secrets.

May 15

The Clovehitch Killer

^{The Clovehitch Killer}

A teenager’s picture-perfect family is torn apart when he uncovers unnerving evidence of a serial killer close to home.

May 16

Upgrade

After a violent mugging leaves him paralyzed, a man receives a computer chip implant that allows him to control his body — and get his revenge.

Monster

_Monster

After being abducted and taken to a desolate house, a girl sets out to rescue her friend and escape from their malicious kidnapper.

May 24

Atlas

^Atlas

A brilliant counterterrorism analyst with a deep distrust of AI discovers it might be her only hope when a mission to capture a renegade robot goes awry.

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory

The Camp Cretaceous gang come together to unravel a mystery when they discover a global conspiracy that brings danger to dinosaurs — and to themselves.

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