Split

Split is an American psychological horror-thriller film released in 2016 directed and produced by M. Night Shyamalan. This film involves a group of teenage girls getting kidnapped by Kevin, played by James McAvoy. The character deals with DID, dissociative identity disorder, characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states. Discovered through his psychiatrist, Dr. Karen Fletcher, Kevin has 23 different personalities. An individual struggles with this mental disorder when they experience trauma, in Kevin's situation he dealt with an abusive mother in his childhood. The plot presents the struggles of the three girls trying to escape being held hostage by encountering his multiple personalities. 

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However, his psychiatrist, Dr. Fletcher, has yet to see one hidden personality. Having kidnapped three girls, Kevin is troubled by a war among his identities and the people near him as they are set to merge. The hidden personality whom the others call the "Beast", appears as a powerful and wicked being who goes on to kill many characters in the movie. This personality was also created as a result of Kevin's childhood trauma, but it delivers inaccurate aspects of DID to viewers who may not fully understand it. 

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Listen as we dive deeper into the truth about the portrayal of dissociative identity disorder in the media. 

As well as how Kevin was affected by his 23 different personalities demonstrated through his behavior in this film. Additionally, we discuss the accuracies and inaccuracies in the movie and how that affects the representation of mental disorders. 

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