Can M. Night Shyamalan get his mojo back?
"Split", the latest by M. Night Shyamalan, was a box-office hit. What happened could be similar to an M. Night Shyamalan film, where there would full of plot twists. Joaquim Phoenix was supposed to play the lead character with multiple personalities, all disturbing figures. But the Oscar-nominated actor dropped out in the 11th hour. Shyamalan attended the San Diego Comic-Con in July 2015, where he met a very drunk James McAvoy. It was one of those rare moments when being hammered would lead to being cast for a film. And the Scottish actor turned out to the be the right one in the lead.
Shyamalan was barely 30 years of age when he achieved Hollywood success; "The Sixth Sense" was a huge box-office hit, receiving six Academy Award nominations. He could be his generation's Orson Welles, where his stories revolved around the supernatural. He went off the track unexpectedly, followed with box-office bombs. The native of Willistown, Pennsylvania would pride himself on original stories, even if "The Last Airbender" didn't seem like his own creation. Will Smith wanted "After Earth" to launch Jaden Smith's film career (and father had good intentions for his teenage son). Alas, Jaden Smith doesn't have good PR. It didn't help that the public saw him as another spoiled offspring of a Hollywood couple. It was Shyamalan's career that suffered the most.
Where could M. Night Shyamalan go from here?
The Indian-American filmmaker would be wise to choose his succeeding projects, and it could be better if he would pass over A-list stars. There was no doubt that the likes of McAvoy should give his eerie plots the edge that diminished after "The Sixth Sense". Furthermore, he might let go of multiple plot twists. (Alfred Hitchcock could be a good example.) There have been too many remakes and sequels (and prequels), so expect Shyamalan to try his hands on this one. A remake of a Hitchcock classic won't be a good idea, but a modern update of an Amicus horror anthology might be a brilliant move. How about "Asylum"? The unsettling mood wouldn't lose in an American suburban setting, and it won't be a bad idea to cast Bruce Willis in it. After all, the "Die Hard" would try his best in other genres.
It seemed far-fetched to bring Shyamalan and Stephen King together, but it wouldn't be impossible for the Pennsylvanian to pen a King-like thriller. They could be the perfect match, but "Salem's Lot" must be hands off. (Shyamalan could be garlic to the vampires.) Shyamalan may not be Billy Wilder (or even Francis Ford Coppola), but it doesn't make him less of a filmmaker. On the other hand, the dominance of superheroes should give the Indian-American director a clue that he shouldn't release his next film on a summer or fall. Unless he would get another Oscar nomination, then a first-quarter release (or right after summer) would get him back in the A-list. It seemed like a long road to recovery, but moviegoers have fickle minds.
