(Warning: Spoilers Ahead)

“Split” is M. Night Shyamalan’s long-overdue return to quality cinema. The film explores the mentality of a dissociative identity patient named Kevin (played by James McAvoy) after he kidnaps a teenager named Casey (played by Anya Taylor-Joy) and her distant friends. The whole film is a thriller of spiraling suspense that electrifies in the director’s famous twist.

The average vacation is a week. That said, talented director Shyamalan has been absent from the film world for 15 years. With only two of his films achieving a “favorable” score on Rotten Tomatoes, it seemed viewers would never see another film of the likes of the revered “Unbreakable” – a film fans have been yearning a sequel for ages. However, “Split” puts all those fears to rest. The director who seemed lost has returned.

First off, the basic concept of the film is simply … basic. The plot of teenage girls getting kidnapped stemming from whack-job sociological issues of the captor are not new to the Hollywood scene. Nevertheless, Shyamalan spins the concept in a blanket of thrill, threat and biblical horror to create something completely new. The film is well paced throughout as it climaxes in a crescendo of inevitable doom for all characters, villains and heroes alike.

Each character depicted brings something new to the table. The popular cheerleader and her less attractive friend, the rebellious female teenager, the hopeless dad, the oblivious psychiatrist, and, obviously, the Bible-reciting kidnapper all convey powerful performances along with the dark, transpiring mood that eclipses all 2016 horror films.

As is the case with all Shyamalan movies, there’s the ever-present revelation of the director’s ideology. At the heart of the movie are three girls: two cheerleaders along with an outcast. The beleaguered trio is detained in an underground, makeshift prison. The popular girls panic continuously and are ultimately killed, while the outcast, a teen with a tragic past, survives an epic showdown with the villain, Kevin. Ending the action with an unforgettable quote, “the broken are pure,” Shyamalan’s message is evidently clear. Everyone should be valued equally, cheerleaders and outcasts alike. The inspirational concept makes you think for days afterward.

Whether you’re looking for an entertaining thrill to your night off or piece of intellectual thinkin’, “Split” is a film to be enjoyed by everyone. 8/10