Split Reflection
Uploaded by
Yvan MavSplit Reflection
Uploaded by
Yvan MavMovie: Split (2016) by M.
Night Shyamalan
Reflection Paper
The movie, "Split," revolves around Kevin Wendell Crumb, his therapist, and the three
girls he abducted. Kevin struggles with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), also known as
multiple personality disorder. He has 23 personalities, or so the viewers thought in the first part of
the movie, but in the latter part, it revealed that he has a 24th personality called 'The Beast.' These
personalities have different names, ages, gender, traits, and belief. Some of them are good, and
some of them are dangerous. They overcome Kevin's body from time to time — to the point that
Kevin does not have control over himself anymore. The three kidnapped girls are Claire, Casey,
and Marcia. Casey seems to act and think differently than the other two. After being trapped in a
room, Claire and Marcia's initial response is to fight head-on. However, Casey does not intend to
do so.
It is incredible to see how Kevin's personalities can change the way he talks and acts.
However, something about Split feels off. It feels like it can damage the real people who have this
disorder in the eyes of the viewers. There are stigmas and stereotypes when it comes to people
with this condition. Some people call someone who has a psychological condition crazy. Some
distance themselves like they are disgusted. Imagine how unpleasant it feels to be different while
all you have is an illness. The way the movie depicts the disorder as a villain makes it worse.
Trauma can lead to psychological disorders. It was just like what Kevin and Casey have.
Kevin was abused by his mother. Maybe it was the reason why he has Dennis, who has an
obsessive cleaning habit, as a personality. On the other hand, Casey has her father die at a young
age. Her uncle became her guardian, but he sexually abuses her.
At the end of the movie, the beast personality of Kevin revealed itself. It is fast, strong, and
murderous. It killed the two girls, but let Casey go when he saw the marks on her stomach. It said
an interesting line that says, "Only through pain can you achieve your greatness! The impure are
the untouched, the unburned, the unslain." Maybe it was saying that traumatic experiences develop
a person. This development can work to their advantage in troubled situations in the future, like
how Kevin has strengthen its body and mind for defense. Nonetheless, I hope that the disorder was
not portrayed as harmful to the innocent.