Nine years ago, a hugely successful horror movie from Blumhouse unexpectedly launched a superhero series. While both horror and superhero films often feature impressive visuals, they usually feel very different. Superhero movies typically focus on hope and triumph, which doesn’t always fit with the darker themes of horror. However, we’ve seen some successful combinations of the two genres, like in films such as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and The Batman.
In 2017, a horror-thriller that didn’t advertise itself as a superhero movie unexpectedly launched a three-film series. While the movie initially felt like a typical horror story, staying true to its dark tone, it ultimately connected a unique superhero project from 2000 with a much-anticipated follow-up. Looking back, it’s clear the film is actually a supervillain origin story, and it finally let director M. Night Shyamalan realize his complete creative vision.
9 Years Ago, Split Made Its Debut & Broke Records
Nine years ago, on January 17, 2017, the movie Split surprised audiences when it hit theaters. While trailers focused on the main story – the kidnapping of Casey Cook (Anya Taylor-Joy) by Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), a man with Dissociative Identity Disorder – the film delivered much more. Split tackled difficult themes like mental illness and PTSD with a suspenseful plot and unexpected turns. The biggest surprise, however, came after the credits: a connection to M. Night Shyamalan’s earlier film, Unbreakable.
Before Bruce Willis’ character, David Dunn, showed up, it wasn’t clear that the two movies were connected. But his appearance explained the incredible strength and speed displayed by Kevin, also known as “The Beast.” This connection set the stage for a third film that would conclude both of their storylines. Given the huge success of Split—it earned $278 million with a budget of only $9 million and became Blumhouse’s most profitable film until Five Nights at Freddy’s (according to The Numbers)—making Glass seemed like a natural next step for Hollywood.
Split Bridged the Gap Between Unbreakable & Glass, Leading to an Unlikely Trilogy
The surprise link between Split and Unbreakable transformed Split from a typical horror film into a superhero-villain story, and its success allowed Shyamalan to complete the narrative he started with Unbreakable in 2000. Split built up to a confrontation between David Dunn, known as “The Overseer,” and “The Beast,” which Glass enthusiastically provided. Though unexpected, it reminded viewers of the promise shown in Unbreakable. While the original film was well-received, it had largely been forgotten by the time Split came out. The post-credits scene in Split rekindled interest and demonstrated that audiences wanted a sequel.
It’s funny that M. Night Shyamalan kept the big twist ending a secret from everyone at the studio, as he shared on the ReelBlend podcast. Even though Unbreakable and Split were made by different companies, he managed to get permission to link them together. He actually surprised the executives at Universal with this reveal during a screening.
The lights dimmed, and we watched the entire movie Split. Then a particular scene came on, and everyone was completely confused. They turned to me and asked what I meant, saying it seemed like something from Disney! I assured them we had permission to use it. Can you believe it? I was showing the studio chairman a sequel to a movie made by a different studio!
He’s correct that the idea might not have been well-received, so it was good that Shyamalan demonstrated how it could work. This led to a fantastic trilogy of horror films. Looking back, the links to Unbreakable and Glass actually make Split even more remarkable.
M. Night Shyamalan’s Horror-Thriller Is More Impressive in Hindsight
While Split is a solid horror movie on its own, it’s even more remarkable when considered as part of the Eastrail 177 Trilogy. The film proves that well-made horror can break the usual genre rules. The success of Unbreakable and its sequels comes from taking common story elements and giving them a darker, more realistic edge. What’s particularly impressive about Split is how it functions both as a complete story and as a connection between films – a testament to M. Night Shyamalan’s skill. The fact that his vision for the trilogy ultimately succeeded only enhances Split, both as a standalone film and within the larger series.
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2026-01-20 21:41