GLASS: 7 Things That Worked And 3 Things That Didn't - SPOILERS
Glass is out now in theaters, but if you're curious about the things that work and the stuff that really doesn't, then you need to delve into this spoiler-filled breakdown of the best and worst moments...
Glass has been taking a hammering from critics and, honestly, it doesn't deserve it. Thankfully, with tracking pointing to a huge opening weekend, plenty of people will have the opportunity to make their own minds up as it's definitely worth watching.
However, while there's a lot that works in this Unbreakable and Split sequel, there are a few major things that don't and we're delving into all of that today. It goes without saying that there are some major spoilers here but whether you've seen the movie and fancy a recap or just want to know what's coming, you need to take a look at this breakdown.
Bringing together David Dunn, Kevin Crumb, and Mr. Glass was an interesting move by director M. Night Shyamalan and it pays off in some ways and stumbles in other. So, to check out this article in its entirety, be sure to click on the "View List" button below!
Did Work: James McAvoy Lets Loose
Wow. If you thought James McAvoy was good in Split, then expand to have your mind blown when you go and watch Glass.
The actor is absolutely phenomenal and we're introduced to a lot of new personalities, some of which are pretty funny and others that will totally freak you out. Honestly, this is probably what we should have seen in Shyamalan's last movie but if the filmmaker was holding out on us, it was worth the wait.
McAvoy is a tremendous actor and it's a blast to see him get the spotlight here; it's fair to say that this movie belongs to him.
Didn't Work: Budget Constraints
During the final act, we learn that Mr. Glass wants to pit David Dunn and The Beast against each other in front of the entire world at the opening of a skyscraper in order to let everyone know that superpowered individuals are indeed real.
We ultimately get a clever explanation for why that fight doesn't happen (and it might have felt totally out of place in a series which has never been as over the top and grand in scale as Marvel and DC Comics movies, anyway) ,but the budget constraints are clear to see at this point and a legitimate disappointment depending on what you were hoping to get out of this "team-up" adventure.
Did Work: The Big Twist
This is an M. Night Shyamalan movie, so of course there's a massive twist! The shocker here is that Dunn, Kevin, and Glass all end up being killed by a secret society who have spent the past 10,000 years taking out those with powers to stop them being able to rise up and put the world in danger.
Paulson's psychiatrist was basically just trying to find a humane way to deal with them by making them think they don't really have powers (which works well enough that it might fool you too).
This is obviously going to p*ss a lot of people off, especially as the three popular leads are killed and the stage is set for a "universe" full of superpowered individuals. That leaves the door open for Shyamalan to tell a lot of different stories, but it honestly feels like things should just be left here.
Didn't Work: Are These Heroes And Villains Really "Super"?
Mr. Glass has a plan and manages to let the world know that superheroes and supervillains exist by recording the battle between David and Kevin and then sending it to each of their respective loved ones (they then leak it online and undo that secret society's machinations).
While I'm sure that footage would get people talking (steel bars are bent, cars are flipped over, and reinforced doors are broken down), I don't feel entirely convinced that any of it would be enough to make people think that superpowered individuals are real as any of it could have been doctored or the work of two bizarrely strong individuals.
It would be incredibly frustrating for a spinoff to take things back a step by having people debate its validity and a little too much for it to have convinced everyone because this fight really needed something big and awe-inspiring to have happened in my opinion.
Did Work: Worlds Collide
When it was revealed that Split was set in the same world as Unbreakable, a lot of minds were blown. There's been a lot of doubt surrounding whether or not Shyamalan could pull this off, but it works really well and Kevin ends up slotting into David and Mr. Glass' world effortlessly.
While the modern era of superhero movies has made team-ups commonplace, a lot of studios and filmmakers struggle to make combining franchises work, but this promised crossover doesn't disappoint and it's just a shame we're not going to see more of this lot on screen together again.
Did Work: Mr. Glass' Story Arc
Mr. Glass' story is brought to an end in this movie and while it's a shame to say goodbye to Samuel L. Jackson's villain, his arc is tied up in a way that's arguably even more satisfying that David's (that just feels tragic and frustrating and might explain why so many have turned on Glass).
His final words should strike a chord with moviegoers, especially after a flashback to his youth earlier in the movie. He's the definition of a tragic villain and I think fans will walk away satisfied with this even if the way things end for David and Kevin don't quite live up to expectations.
Didn't Work: The Supporting Players
Sarah Paulson's Dr. Staple is absolutely fantastic from start to finish but some of the other supporting characters in this movie aren't quite up to snuff. Anya Taylor-Joy really doesn't deliver the same way she has in other movies, while Spencer Treat Clark is pretty wooden and Charlayne Woodard looks pretty silly in her old lady makeup! This doesn't ruin the movie but they're the weak link here.
Did Work: M. Night Shyamalan's Cameo
In Unbreakable, M. Night Shyamalan made a cameo appearance as a football fan who Dunn learns has been dealing drugs. Then, in Split, he plays a security guard watching over the building in which Dr. Karen Fletcher is murdered by The Beast.
Here, he can be seen in the security shop owned by Dunn buying equipment for that same building. He recognises David and notes that when they crossed paths at the football stadium all those years ago, he decided to take a different path in life and went on the straight and narrow.
This is a cracking Easter Egg and one longtime fans of these films will definitely appreciate.
Did Work: Another Big Twist
You didn't think there was just one twist, did you?
During the course of the movie, it's revealed that Kevin's father was on the same train as David and, as a result, Mr. Glass is responsible for The Beast's creation. Had his dad not died, Kevin would have never been so badly abused by his mother and his monstrous persona likely wouldn't have manifested in such a horrifying fashion.
Upon finding this out, The Beast murders Glass, basically breaking every bone in his body in the process and arguably giving the villain what he deserves.
Did Work: A Whole New "Universe"
Glass ends with those who survived talking about the aforementioned leak leading to the creation of a whole new universe; is that a sign Shyamalan is going Cloverfield with the Unbreakable franchise by launching a series of spinoffs featuring heroes and villains?
Given the box office success the movie is seemingly going to achieve, that certainly seems like a likely possibility and while it could be fun to see, it definitely feels like this story is over and should be left alone. Then again, if we get new characters in new locations, it really wouldn't change what we see here and could lead to a lot of very exciting possibilities on the big and small screens.