M. Night time Shyamalan’s “Unbreakable” is now 25 years outdated.
Within the opening title credit, Shyamalan lastly unveiled what the film was about, and it got here as a shock: “Unbreakable” isn’t nearly comedian books however the method to comedian e book storytelling.
It begins in a Philadelphia division retailer in 1961, with a mom giving beginning to a child that originally appears fussy however is revealed to be born with damaged bones. This heartbreaking prelude, revealing that the child (heard however by no means seen) was born with its legs and arms damaged, units a somber tone, and the film by no means seems again.
We then meet David Dunne, performed by Bruce Willis, aboard a practice that’s moments away from changing into newsworthy; the sustained single shot that Shyamalan makes use of to introduce the character, construct pressure and hold us from trying away isn’t simply nice cinema, it prevents us from taking our eyes off the horror about to happen.
We by no means see the devastating practice crash however solely study of it – on this movie, the quasi-sequel “Break up” (2016) and the true sequel “Glass” (2019), Shyamalan deconstructs the superhero style by, amongst a number of different issues, not exhibiting us disaster however leaning into the influence it creates in the direction of those that survive it.
By stripping away the spectacle, Shyamalan goes the Godard route – some can be annoyed by the elevated deal with character and lack of CGI-enhanced mayhem, not to mention a extra conventional method to movie storytelling. What Shyamalan is doing from the very begin of “Unbreakable” isn’t simply bizarre and unorthodox but additionally radical.
The sequence concludes with two extra one-shot takes, one with Dunne being knowledgeable of the tragedy by the physician and a really spooky second the place Dunne leaves the hospital, is comforted by his household and should stroll by way of a foyer filled with these awaiting dangerous information. This sequence, like a lot of “Unbreakable,” is haunting, compassionate and so transferring. Shyamalan loves his characters, and it reveals proper from the beginning.
We reconnect with Mrs. Value, the mom of the wounded child, performed by Charlayne Woodard. Value is without doubt one of the most touching mom characters I’ve ever encountered in cinema. The best way she challenges her son, Elijah, who struggles with ailing well being and isolation, and demonstrates her love for him by pushing him, is a factor of magnificence.
The grownup Elijah is performed by Samuel L. Jackson. We study he suffers from “osteogenesis imperfecta” and has had “54 breaks in his life.” Seemingly at random, Elijah, who’s all the time at risk of getting his bones as soon as once more damaged, is fascinated by Dunne, who has by no means taken a sick day at work and could be indestructible.
The journey of Dunne and Elijah faucets into common frustrations, then and now – we’re all searching for solutions and struggling to know how we match on this world.
FAST FACT: “Unbreakable” earned $248 million at international theaters, with $95 million coming from U.S. film screens.
Time has been sort to this, the primary Shyamalan cult film. The one 2000 film I favored greater than this one is Sofia Coppola’s “The Virgin Suicides,” which can also be a downer, deeply touching and unimaginable to shake off when it’s over.
As a post-modernist comedian e book film, this can be a grasp class. The defiantly somber tone and immersion into tough, unusual materials announce Shyamalan as a real storyteller, not a crowd pleaser making an attempt to match or prime “The Sixth Sense” (1999), as most anticipated.
It is a comedian e book film as an artwork movie, take it or depart it. In 2000, most deserted it after a giant opening weekend. At present, we clearly see the way it paved the best way for “Heroes” (2006-2020) and extra arthouse minded comedian e book movies like Ang Lee’s “Hulk” (2003), “Watchmen” (2009) and James Gunn’s “Tremendous” (2010), to call only a few.
I don’t completely forgive Shyamalan for “After Earth” (2013) and nonetheless discover “The Occurring” (2008) laughable (and, as of 2025, I’ve but to see his “The Final Airbender”). Nevertheless, I’ll all the time give a brand new Shyamalan film a shot, as a result of he’s an all-chips-on-the-table storyteller, filmmaker and artist.
Like Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee and Francis Ford Coppola, Shyamalan’s work isn’t all the time constant however nonetheless private, distinct and filled with fascinating dangers.
Whereas Shyamalan dials again the anticipated pyrotechnics of a comic book e book film, different elements are intriguingly utilized in a near-subliminal method: the characters are coloration coded (blue for Dunne, purple for Elijah), scenes are framed to resemble richly textured comedian e book panels and even the mise-en-scene offers texture.
Be aware Elijah’s nice monologue about comedian books: “I imagine comics are our final hyperlink… to an historical manner of passing on historical past.” As Jackson recites the phrases, there’s a wall of hieroglyphics seen behind him.
When Mrs. Value arms younger Elijah a 1968 problem of Motion Comics and informs him that “they are saying this one has a shock ending,” it’s a winking second that references the expectations of the filmmaker and the film we’re watching.
We share Elijah’s perspective: discovering hope and reality in darkish, unsure instances.
“Unbreakable” captures skewed views that trigger us to lean ahead and alter to the world of secrets and techniques we’re witnessing. We regularly see issues at a distance. We’re voyeurs, discovering issues by remark, not contrivance.
Few mainstream motion pictures can succeed, not to mention get away with, being this delicate.
Eduardo Serra’s cinematography is matched by the intelligence in James Newton Howard’s rating, which offers two central character themes however nonetheless matches the quiet that pervades the movie.
Willis is reserved, dedicated to his character and permits himself to seem susceptible as Dunne. Watch how awkwardly he flirts with that practice passenger in his introductory scene- we don’t see lust however desperation. Dunne is lonely and acknowledges that nobody understands him.
Jackson’s incredible efficiency is as showy as Willis’ is subdued, an ideal distinction. Watch Jackson closely- the sting, secrets and techniques and ache inside his character are seen, when you’re trying shut sufficient. Each actors have given greater, extra demonstrative performances however not often have they been higher than they’re right here.
An underrated contributor is Robin Wright, enjoying Audrey, Dunne’s spouse. Wright is heartbreaking and elevates a doubtlessly thankless character. Audrey’s late-night confession to Dunne and her two scenes with Elijah are fantastically performed.
twenty fifth Anniversary: UNBREAKABLE (2000) M. Night time Shyamalan pic.twitter.com/8BC4T86eGa
— Cinema Phenomenology (@phenocine) November 14, 2025
Taking part in Dunne’s son, Joseph, Spencer Deal with Clark is essential to the success of the movie’s riskiest scene; Joseph tries to show his father is who he thinks he’s, in a harmful manner, over the breakfast desk. It’s an uncomfortable second, and Shyamalan is on harmful floor right here.
It’s the scene that Shyamalan in all probability ought to have minimize. As is, it offers the movie an actual edge.
Likewise is the savagery of the villain Dunne pursues within the climax, a sequence as scary as essentially the most jolting moments in “The Sixth Sense.”
The 2 closing scenes, by which father and son and Dunne and Elijah absolutely perceive one another, are golden. Within the former, the shortage of phrases exchanged is as a substitute a glance of understanding between two males who lastly perceive one another.
Within the latter, it’s the same however heartbreaking realization that, along with how figuratively and actually damaged Elijah is, we someway missed how harmful he’s.
“The Sixth Sense” and “Break up” could wind up Shyamalan’s hottest works, however “Unbreakable” continues to be his best possible.