I’d imagine as a filmmaker it is very hard to please fans all the time. The more movies you create, the more of a chance you have of producing a dud or two. This has certainly been said about M. Night Shyamalan over the years. With his recent rash of films, however, it seems that he has actually re-gained the trust of his fanbase. Was the long time director able to win over viewers once again with his latest project, Glass?
The Plot
Security guard David Dunn uses his special abilities to track Kevin Wendell Crumb, a disturbed man who has twenty-four personalities.
My Thoughts
With the success of 2016’s Split, M. Night Shyamalan was finally prepared to unleash the finale of what is now known as the Eastrail 177 Trilogy.
Upon its initial theatrical release, I remember watching the trailer for Split and just seeing a movie that looked interesting. I went to see it in my local movie theater and couldn’t believe my eyes as the post-credits scene harkened back to another of Shyamalan’s films, one that was almost 20 years old at that point.
Could this really be happening? Was Split really the second entry in a trilogy that originally started in 2000 with Unbreakable? I didn’t know it then, but I was sure as Hell excited for the possibilities. Even more so because I enjoyed both of these films immensely already.
Fast forward another three years and we finally get the end of it all. Glass is to be the grand finale of this superhero thriller franchise and I absolutely loved it.
While the first two films in this trilogy can most certainly be considered a part of the thriller genre, Glass is so much more. It has its darker moments, but it is a drama at heart, one that wraps things up extremely well and tells a beautiful story consisting of many main characters.
Unlike most superhero movies of the current day and age, Glass does a wonderful job at sticking more closely to reality. Now, I say that loosely because we all know that a man like James McAvoy’s The Beast cannot really exist (or can he?). Still, Shyamalan’s heroic tale is much more grounded than any Marvel or DC film will ever be.
M. Night Shyamalan has been making films for almost 30 years. At this point, it isn’t even a question as to the quality of film that he is going to make. I don’t mean if it’s going to be good or bad. Instead, what I am referring to is the caliber of casting, effects, and overall production quality.
Glass‘ cast is full of starpower. Performers like Bruce Willis, James McAvoy, Samuel L. Jackson, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Spencer Treat Clark are all back to play their respective roles that were created in both 2000’s Unbreakable and its subsequent sequel, Split.
Joining the cast this time around is another very talented actor in Sarah Paulson, perhaps most well known for her various roles in “American Horror Story” and more recently Bird Box. Paulson fits in quite well with the rest of the cast and does a remarkable job as Dr. Ellie Staple, someone who specializes in rare forms of delusion of grandeur — people who believe themselves to be superheroes.
All of the archetypes of comic book lure are present throughout Glass‘ 129 minute runtime. There is of course the main cast of characters, including the heroes and villains, multiple showdowns between said characters, origin tales, and more.
The Verdict
M. Night Shyamalan has essentially created one of my favorite trilogies of all time. Throughout all three, decades-spanning films, the acting was always spectacular, the special effects and cinematography were top-notch, and the storytelling was always intriguing.
Glass ties things up more marvelously than I could have ever imagined. In vintage M. Night fashion, there are a couple of twists and turns. These serve as the proverbial icing on the cake, in my opinion, and while I am sad to see this franchise come to an end, I couldn’t be happier with the end result.
I would love to see McAvoy’s 24 personalities of The Horde return, along with Bruce Willis’ David Dunn, The Overseer, and of course, Samuel L. Jackson’s now iconic Mister Glass. If I ever miss the trio enough, I can always just reach onto my shelf and revisit these films that I became an instant fan of.
If you are a fan of M. Night Shyamalan’s signature storytelling style, love superhero films, or just want to plain old see a great film, be sure to watch Glass. The film is available now on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
The home release features tons of bonus content, including alternate scenes, interviews with cast and crew, and more.
I highly recommend all three films in the series and give Glass 5 villainous origin tales out of 5.
