There are several films that have been produced that discuss the topic of mental health in both a positive and informative light. While this is not to say that they have portrayed specific disorders as “simple,” or “easy to live with”, but they have worked on depicting the hardships of the vulnerable in a non-offensive manner that does not play into the already-existing stigma of specific mental health issues, personality disorders, and other categories that fall under this particular umbrella. “Split”, directed by M. Night Shyamalan – an American filmmaker, philanthropist, and actor – is not one of them.
The Plot
According to IMDB, “Kevin, who is suffering from dissociative identity disorder and has 23 alter egos, kidnaps three teenagers. They must figure out his friendly personas before he unleashes his 24th personality.” What many do not know is that “Split” is part of a trilogy that consists of “Unbreakable” (2000), “Split” (2016), and “Glass” (2019). While “Unbreakable” has been labeled as the first grounded superhero film, “Split” has been called the first solo “supervillain” origin story, and the first stealth sequel in Hollywood.
What Really Is Dissociative Identity Disorder?
According to Cleveland Clinic, “dissociative identity disorder (DID), formerly called multiple personality disorder, is a mental illness that involves disruptions or breakdowns of memory, awareness, identity, and/or perception.” DID is thought to be a complex psychological condition that is likely caused by many factors, including severe trauma during early childhood – usually extreme, repetitive physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Due to the trauma, awareness, memories, and emotions of harmful actions or events are removed from consciousness, and alternate personalities or subpersonalities form as a result.
Episodes of DID – more commonly referred to as “switching” – can be triggered by a variety of real and symbolic traumas, including mild events such as being involved in a minor traffic accident, adult illness, or stress.
The Stigma
From inaccurately depicting other disorders, such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), through these “alter egos” to classifying the film as a “supervillain origin story”, the film “Split” directly feeds into the already-existing stigma surrounding mental health – and DID in particular, a disorder that is already constantly deemed as an exaggeration of what it truly entails and sometimes even non-existent. Not only does the film portray the character played by James McAvoy as a criminal, but the film also ends in the character turning into a “beast” – yes, a monster, which is a very literal depiction of what many may view those suffering with such disorders as.
What could have been a breakthrough film for the mental health community through discussing a disorder that never seems to see the light of day – and in an accurate manner – ultimately resulted in being one of the most demeaning films discussing mental health and mental disorders of all time.