I watched the movie “Split”, a thriller movie following three teenage girls that get kidnapped by a man with dissociative identity disorder (DID) who locks them up in a secure facility for dark purposes. The movie focuses on Casey, one of the teenagers with a hidden traumatic childhood and home life, and the man’s interactions with his therapist. The man (originally Kevin) has 23 identities, with the movie focusing on the more unhinged/dangerous identities that are in what is called “the Horde”- Patricia, Dennis, Hedwig, and the Beast.

I enjoyed this movie, I thought it was really interesting and captivating. I think the acting is good, the suspense is well done, and the small details that make each identity unique are cool to spot. I also think it’s interesting that this movie so positively portrays therapy and how reaching out for help makes a difference.

This is typical of many thriller/horror movies, but I didn’t like how the main character reacted slowly and chose not to physically fight back, even when begged by the other two girls to help them. I watched this movie with my roommate, and there were multiple scenes where we were yelling at the TV for her to run or grab the knife or do anything but freeze.

The representation for DID is likely unrealistic and harmful in some ways to actual people with DID because of “the Horde’s” negative behavior. However, the backstory that Kevin developed DID to protect himself from trauma inflicted by his mom follows actual DID causes. Kevin has 23 identities, and he describes them as sitting in chairs in his mind, and when one of the personalities is in control they are “in the light.” The identity in charge can change very fast, and two scenes in the movie suggest that within “the Horde” the identities can co-exist and be speaking at the same time. A google search says people with DID can have up to a hundred alters, but on average have ten.

Spoilers: There is a developing 24th identity as the movie goes on called the Beast, who has supernatural strength and speed because he has unlocked the full potential of the brain in a way only people with DID can do. This is the most obviously fake part in representing the DID disorder.

Trigger Warnings: murder, assault, underage nudity, quick shots of gore, implied child sexual assault