M. Night Shyamalan's 2016 film Split thrusts audiences into the fractured psyche of Kevin Wendell Crumb, a man who embodies twenty-three distinct personalities, one of whom, "The Beast," possesses superhuman abilities. The film uses Kevin's condition, Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), as a central plot device, exploring themes of trauma, control, and the very nature of self. While Split offers a compelling narrative and a tour-de-force performance from James McAvoy, its dramatized portrayal of DID, particularly the sensationalized aspects of "The Beast," risks perpetuating harmful stereotypes and obscuring the complex realities experienced by individuals with this disorder. The film’s primary achievement lies in its visceral depiction of internal conflict, yet its narrative choices ultimately lean more towards horror spectacle than an accurate representation of DID.
The film establishes Kevin's condition as a direct consequence of severe childhood abuse. We learn, primarily through the personality "Dennis," that Kevin's trauma fractured his identity into multiple, distinct personas, each serving a specific purpose in his survival. This aspect of the film, the link between extreme trauma and identity fragmentation, aligns with clinical understanding of DID. The film shows how certain personalities emerge to cope with specific threats or emotional burdens. For instance, "Patricia" often appears to provide a maternal, though misguided, comfort, while "Hedwig," the young boy persona, embodies a childlike vulnerability and resentment. These different facets of Kevin's personality manifest with distinct voices, mannerisms, and even perceived physical characteristics, a portrayal that, while amplified for cinematic effect, reflects the subjective experience of multiplicity reported by some individuals with DID. The constant negotiation and internal dialogues between these personalities are central to the film's tension, highlighting the chaotic and often overwhelming internal world that can accompany the disorder.
However, Split significantly diverges from clinical reality in its depiction of "The Beast." This dominant personality, capable of extraordinary physical feats like climbing walls and resisting bullets, is presented as an almost supernatural entity, a manifestation of Kevin's repressed strength or a reward for enduring abuse. This sensationalization is where the film most critically misrepresents DID. Clinically, DID is understood as a complex trauma response, not a conduit for superhuman abilities. While individuals with DID may experience dissociation as a profound escape from reality, this does not translate into physical enhancements. The film’s choice to imbue "The Beast" with such powers serves the genre conventions of horror and thriller, creating a formidable antagonist. It risks suggesting that DID itself grants extraordinary capabilities, potentially leading to misunderstanding and fear. Furthermore, the narrative frames these distinct personalities as entirely separate entities, almost like individual people inhabiting one body, which oversimplifies the concept of fragmented identity and can perpetuate the misconception that individuals with DID are simply "acting" or "faking" their condition.
The film's climax, where "The Beast" fully emerges and demonstrates its "powers," further emphasizes this departure from reality. While the film attempts to ground these abilities in the psychological state of Kevin (e.g., the idea that believing in it makes it real), it remains a highly dramatized and fictionalized interpretation. The kidnapping of the three teenage girls serves as the catalyst for "The Beast's" ultimate manifestation, framing the disorder as inherently dangerous and predatory. This is a harmful stereotype that can contribute to the stigma surrounding DID, associating it with violence and unpredictability. In reality, individuals with DID are far more likely to be victims of abuse than perpetrators, and their internal struggles are often debilitating rather than empowering in a physical sense. Split's narrative arc, culminating in the revelation that Kevin's condition is connected to a larger universe of enhanced individuals, further distances it from any semblance of psychological realism.
In conclusion, M. Night Shyamalan's Split is a masterclass in cinematic tension and performance, effectively using Dissociative Identity Disorder as a framework for a compelling horror story. James McAvoy’s portrayal of Kevin Wendell Crumb is undeniably captivating, capturing the fragmentation of identity with remarkable intensity. Nevertheless, the film’s narrative choices, particularly the sensationalized depiction of "The Beast" and its superhuman abilities, ultimately overshadow any genuine attempt at an accurate representation of DID. By prioritizing spectacle over psychological fidelity, Split risks reinforcing harmful stereotypes about a complex mental health condition, leaving audiences with a distorted understanding of the lived experiences of individuals with Dissociative Identity Disorder.