Split

by Kayla Lynch

For some, the movie Split could be viewed as strange or weird, but for those who find the human mind interesting and complex, this is definitely a must see movie.

Split is about a man named Kevin Wendell Crumb, played by James McAvoy, who suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). DID is a mental disorder characterized by at two distinct and relatively enduring identities that alternately show in a person’s behavior.

Kevin has a total of 24 different identities. These identities range from a 9-year-old boy named Hedwig to a somewhat nurturing mother-type figure named Patricia. While some of the identities can be nurturing and kind, others are sinister and terrifying.

Being a psychology major, I found this movie very intriguing. The way that James McAvoy portrayed Kevin was spot on to how a patient who suffers from DID would act. He was able to switch between personalities so distinctly, that you always knew when a different identity would surface.

In one scene, Kevin resurfaces and has no recollection of kidnapping the three young teenage girls who are being held captive in his home. This is very common in patients who suffer from this disorder. Memory loss can be so extensive that it can’t be explained by ordinary forgetfulness.

In certain parts of the movie, some situations were more stressful than others causing a different identity to surface. Certain factors can cause a different identity to surface and take control of the situation. This can be caused by the alter personalities general knowledge or predominant mood.

If you like psychological thrillers that explore the human mind, this film is the one for you.