James McAvoy Goes a Little Mad in New ‘Split’ Trailer

M. Night Shyamalan’s Split came as a welcome surprise when it debuted unannounced as the secret screening at last month’s Fantastic Fest, delighting audiences with a daring turn from James McAvoy (and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy and James McAvoy) as a mental patient harboring 23 distinct personalities in his head. Our own Britt Hayes was on the scene and reported back with a resoundingly positive review naming the new film as Shyamalan’s best in years. (Not an especially high bar, admittedly, but praise is praise.)

A new spot for the suspense flick surfaced online today, rehashing the basic plot points of the first trailer — McAvoy’s Kevin abducts three teen girls, including The Witch’s Anya Taylor-Joy, for use in some mysterious ritual — and ratcheting up the horror factor. One of Kevin’s creepiest personae, the child-minded nine-year-old Hedwig, gets a flicker of rage in his eyes when he realizes his new playmates intend on escaping through his so-called picture window. And then there’s the matter of actual physiological transformation, too, as Kevin’s psychotherapist mentions that the most extreme cases of dissociative identity disorder can actually change the body of the patient. If he gets any more unstable, Kevin could morph into something far more beastly than any of the girls are prepared for.

The film won’t get a debut until after the New Year, on January 20, giving horror fans something to look forward to after the holiday season passes through American cineplexes. But the most exciting mystery of all: Does Shyamalan still have it, after all these years? (Let none of us forget The Last Airbender.)