M. Night Shyamalan's Best Films
A writer/director of mysterious supernatural plots and cohesive stories more often than not marker with twist endings. Here's his career ranked.
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- DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsBruce WillisHaley Joel OsmentToni ColletteMalcolm Crowe, a child psychologist, starts treating a young boy, Cole, who encounters dead people and convinces him to help them. In turn, Cole helps Malcolm reconcile with his estranged wife.5/5
M. Night Shyamalan started out really well, this film established him as a writer/director able to construct interesting supernatural plots, chilling suspense, good character development also twist endings. This was definitley a film people wanted to see, imaculate with a classy feel and grand direction. Its deserves every bit of its cult following as M. Night's big reputation he had then. - DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsBruce WillisSamuel L. JacksonRobin WrightA man learns something extraordinary about himself after a devastating accident.4.5/5
I almost have a more favourable feel towards 'Unbreakable' explorig the psychology of Superheroes among us rather then from other worlds. I would admit its not as fine as Sixth Sense, but it has gruelling suspense, fascinating caracters, and intriguing subject matter that makes this film just as great a cult following as the Sixth Sense. - DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsJames McAvoyAnya Taylor-JoyHaley Lu RichardsonThree girls are kidnapped by a man with a diagnosed 23 distinct personalities. They must try to escape before the apparent emergence of a frightful new 24th.4.5/5
'Split' has the makings of true Shyamalan-esque thrills and chills all while involving a character with 23 distinct personalities trapped inside his consciousness even after three teenage girls have been kidnapped. Add to that it's the first of Shyamalan's films in long years (15 at most) to have the most depth and dimension to it's characters and story, intrigue and mystery permeate throughout the film's run time able to keep viewers guessing at every twist and turn. Performances from James McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joy are true stand-outs, the others are very much at their supporting standards. The cinematography from Mike Gioulakis also shines as being Shyamalan's coolest looking film's to date. Lastly I couldn't recommend this film any more than it including a classic Shyamalan twist ending possibly the best I've seen from him to date, even when the last shot is almost connecting the dots to something else I'd rather not say. - DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsMel GibsonJoaquin PhoenixRory CulkinA widowed former reverend living with his children and brother on a Pennsylvania farm finds mysterious crop circles in their fields, which suggests something more frightening to come.4/5
Shyamalan has proved once more he can make a decent mystery film with suspense and paranormal findings. Mel Gibson is fine as ever in a damatic role while the others are really good too. This must be Shyamalan's last good film or his most favourable underatted. looking back on this and his other two films prior, you'll wonder when he'll do suspense as good as this again. - DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsDave BautistaJonathan GroffBen AldridgeWhile vacationing, a girl and her parents are taken hostage by armed strangers who demand that the family make a choice to avert the apocalypse.4/5
Shyamalan here demonstrate what he does best. Crafts a tension filled thriller full of topical debates linked in to making that one decision that can help save the world or be damed by ongoing crisies. Tense drama is at the forefront along with fine acting, brooding suspense and compelling character arcs, it one for Shyamalan to prove he doesn't need his own posessive material to 'try' an convince audiences, All he needs is a great book he's suited to adapt. - DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsJames McAvoyBruce WillisSamuel L. JacksonSecurity guard David Dunn uses his supernatural abilities to track Kevin Wendell Crumb, a disturbed man who has twenty-four personalities.4/5
Completing a trilogy that explore the psychological minds and actions of supposed superheroes that proves to be more thought provoking than expensive franchises. 'Glass' brings Shyamalan's best suspense scaled action set-pieces ever put to film, and while it's great entertainment for fans, evaluation it can be a little hard especially the divisive third act and two Shyamalan-esque twists you'll never see coming. Still, it's an incredibly well made film with lots of thrills and chills, but it kind of lacks exploring some of it's side characters sub-plots and development and wants to focus more on the incoming conflict with the title character's scheme. It's either satisfying or frustrating and could be a good finishing point for this story. - DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsOlivia DeJongeEd OxenbouldDeanna DunaganTwo siblings become increasingly frightened by their grandparents' disturbing behavior while visiting them on vacation.3.5/5
Right about now, M. Night Shyamalan has learned he's a director certainly not suited to big-budget studio pictures. 'The Visit' is not as great as many might hope for it to be, although it's genuinely impressive hark back to the director's earlier films, small in scale but big in impact and thrills. The film can be described basically as a sort of fake documentary narrative that the two main characters are making while on a very mysterious trip. For the most part, the film is focused on its inciting plot and strong acting performances from its very talented cast. While at the same time it creates a very effective scare tactics of horror and mixes that with some oddball comedic tones that are incredibly impressive. Pretty much if you're a fan of Shyamalan's earlier films, you'll certainly be willing to check this one out. - DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsSigourney WeaverWilliam HurtJoaquin PhoenixA series of events tests the beliefs of a small isolated countryside village.3/5
The Village isn't half that bad when you look at it. It has a good setting, mystery and creepyness that make this director stand out, but along the way the ending twist isn't as surprising as the other films. Its disappointing that it could have been a lot better that what it is, Although I still find his direction really good this is where his writing began to fall. - DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsGael García BernalVicky KriepsRufus SewellA vacationing family discovers that the secluded beach where they're relaxing for a few hours is somehow causing them to age rapidly, reducing their entire lives into a single day.3/5
A literal episode of "The Twilight Zone" in feature length form. At times it can be freaky and effective, especially with the craftmanship and casting. Other times it's too weird to comprehend which is why it sits at the crossroads of M. Night's career. Easy to enjoy but hard to recomend. - DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsPaul GiamattiBryce Dallas HowardJeffrey WrightApartment building superintendent Cleveland Heep rescues what he thinks is a young woman from the pool he maintains. When he discovers that she is actually a character from a bedtime story who is trying to make the journey back to her home, he works with his tenants to protect his new friend from the creatures that are determined to keep her in our world.2.5/5
Shyamalan's more personal project seems interesting but very ludicrous and silly at times. Some parts are convincing, others arn't so much, his second flop couldn't save much from his writing. - DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsMark WahlbergZooey DeschanelJohn LeguizamoA science teacher, his wife, and a young girl struggle to survive a plague that causes those infected to commit suicide.2.5/5
Some thrills are effective, some interesting ideas, but the film soon becomes a let down with a disappointing resolution and some ludicrous deaths(eg. Lawn mower). Shyamalan had to at least lean a bit more to get more attention, but its just not that good. Perhaps more script development and better casting should have been an option. - DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsJaden SmithDavid DenmanWill SmithA crash landing leaves Kitai Raige and his father Cypher stranded on Earth, a millennium after events forced humanity's escape. With Cypher injured, Kitai must embark on a perilous journey to signal for help.2.5/5
Not as bad as many who made out it was. There are certain sci-fi elements within this film I thought worked well along with the visual approach and effort. However this particular film is not without its incredible flaws; hardly enough drama compensate dull storytelling and unlikable characters, not even enough conveniences within the plot points redeem the film much. Overall this is a mediocre film worth watching only for its action, effects, and visual appeal. - DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsNoah RingerNicola Peltz BeckhamJackson RathboneAang, a young successor to a long line of Avatars, must master all four elements and stop the Fire Nation from enslaving the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom.1/5
What was M. Night Shyamalan thinking when he decided to make this film? More or less was it really the studio fault for such disastrous casting of talentless actors which is questionable to what type of approach they were going for, The Film is a downright textbook example of how to not make a big budget epic. Scoured with a Horrendous screenplay, Bad Acting, Laughable Dialogue, one dimensional characters, really inconvenient plotting and all too embarrassing quick pacing and how could I not mention the terrible special FX. Pretty much its all surface no substance throughout; ploughing through the popular cartoon episodes in little than 98 minutes. Shyamalan has sunk to an all time low with nothing to gain from this picture alone.