By George Haerle

For The Daily World

Oh, Lord. OK, how should words be used to describe “Split,” M. Night Shyamalan’s recent return to horror? So weird, but in a really good way. “Split” feels like some kind of really awesome B horror movie from the ‘80s that deserves a cult following, wonderfully walking the line between very fun schlock and genuine horror film.

James McAvoy plays a dream role for any actor who loves their job, as Kevin, a man with a severe case of DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder), who abducts three girls for mysterious purposes and, as to be expected, those purposes are beyond bad. Twenty-three personalities sit in Kevin’s head, some of which begin to warn the girls that a 24th is coming at some point to get them.

Mostly we meet Dennis, a man with OCD who is the strongman who conducts the abduction. Then there is Ms. Patricia, an older woman who is incredibly polite, but with malicious intentions. Third is Hedwig, a personality of a 9-year-old boy who I wasn’t sure what to think of, but is great nonetheless if even for the wrong reasons. Lastly, there is the personality of the Beast, an evil being that may be more than just an extra identity.

A little more in depth on McAvoy: He goes all out for this role, and you could tell not only did he sink his teeth into it, he probably had a heck of a lot of fun going weird and crazy for each and every personality we come across in the movie. Sometimes they come across as genuinely disturbing (Dennis, The Beast), while others come across really hammy and unintentionally hilarious. While there were a few lines of Hedwig’s that were disturbing and others that were supposed to be actually amusing, there were plenty of other lines — spoken in a goofy undeveloped child’s voice — for which I had to stop myself from laughing at times, because they were supposed to be (maybe?) serious.

The Beast however lives up to the build, and the revelation of this 24th personality is quite terrifying. That is all.

Anya Taylor-Joy as the lead, Casey, continues to prove she at least has a place in good horror films, appearing previously (and excellently) in “The Witch,” a creepy small-scale horror film from 2015 you may have missed and is worth a watch, especially closer to Halloween. Haley Lu Richardson and Jessica Sula play the other captured girls, who are fine at their roles, but nothing to go in depth about. There is a subplot about Casey’s past that is explored that relates to the movie’s themes of coping with past trauma. However, the direction it goes is very icky and cringe-inducing in a bad way, and I felt could have been cut all together.

A needed presence of warmth to a movie that is otherwise all serious and creepy is Betty Buckley, who plays Kevin’s psychologist, Dr. Fletcher. Highly knowledgeable of DID, she has a genuinely sweet and caring nature for her patients, and her presence adds some comfort between every horrible scene of the three abducted girls being scared for their life. Her presence in the movie is not only essential for the plot, it is essential for the viewers, as the movie would just not work without some kind of break between the torment Kevin — whether intentionally or not — inflicts upon the three girls he has abducted and locked up in a mysterious, expansive basement attached to maintenance tunnels.

The real treat here is that M. Night Shyamalan is back. If he keeps making absolutely nutso and awesome movies like this. I would totally pay to see a sequel to “Split,” and I really, really hope there is one. Like, I REALLY hope there is a sequel to “Split,” and there is a particular reason for it too, as you will have to find out by going to the theater to see it. The third act will either be loved or hated by many. I, however, am in the camp of the former, and is recommended especially for anyone who enjoys Shyamalan’s early work.

“Split” is a rare beast, in that it’s a horror film that manages to be fun at the same time, even if it doesn’t quite intend to be. Its surprises are as jaw-dropping as each of Kevin’s strange personalities. While you may leave the theater with an odd smile, when you go home at night, get out of your car and walk up to unlock your front door, you may just find yourself looking over your shoulder — just in case.

“Split” is currently playing at the Riverside Cinemas, 1017 S. Boone St. in Aberdeen.

George Haerle is a 2008 graduate of Aberdeen High and holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing for media and lives in Cosmopolis.