Summary
-
Unbreakable
blends Shyamalan's unique style with a superhero origin story. - The film deconstructs traditional superhero stereotypes and ends on an unexpected, dark note.
- Despite Shyamalan's divisive reputation,
Unbreakable
remains a masterpiece in the superhero genre.
Few directors are as divisive as M. Night Shyamalan. The Sixth Sense opened to rave reviews, earning a legion of devoted fans. Critics have admired his atmospheric direction and patient approach to storytelling, blending dark themes with traditional horror thrills. However, Shyamalan has spent his career trying to recapture enlightenment in a bottle. His uncompromising style has made him a controversial cinematic figure, with films such as Signals AND The Village proving divisive, especially among the public. Many have started to doubt Shyamylan's talent, especially after The event AND The Last Airbender has further tarnished his good nameDespite his infamous reputation, the author is no flash in the pan. Shyamalan's best film is a deeply unconventional take on one of Hollywood's most popular genres.
Published in 2000, Unbreakable It turned out to be a wonderfully idiosyncratic gem of a film. Bruce Willis played David Dunn, a security guard suffering from a lack of purpose. After surviving a horrific train crash, Dunn slowly realizes that he possesses superhuman abilities. He has never been ill and boasts incredible strength, reminiscent of a working-class Captain America. Sam Jackson's Elijah Prince guides Dunn throughout his journey, as they both desperately search for a greater purpose in life. Seen as a sequel to The Sixth Sense, the public didn't know what to think Unbreakable upon releaseEven after all these years, the film feels fresh amidst the saturation of comic book blockbusters and remains one of the high points of Shyamalan's oeuvre.
Unbreakable puts Shyamylan's style to good use

Related
Samuel L. Jackson has starred in two nearly identical non-Marvel superhero films
Samuel L. Jackson is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood and the superhero genre, yet his superhero films like Unbreakable and Jumper are ignored.
For better or for worse, M. Night Shyamalan boasts one of the most recognizable styles in the industry. His films are heavily inspired by Eastern cinema, consisting of long, relaxed takes and exceptional framing. Shyamalan likes to take his time with a scene, favoring minimal cuts so that each shot can breathe. All of his major works are contemplative slow burns, more interested in atmosphere than traditional narrative structure. Unfortunately, this style of filmmaking can be terribly overdone if used incorrectly. While The Sixth Sense benefited greatly from Shyamylan's authorial sensibilities, his artistic instincts proved detrimental to many other projects. Fortunately, Unbreakable makes the most of M. Night Shyamalan's typical staging.
Unbreakable boasts some of the most striking imagery in the superhero genre. Shyamalan's camerawork mirrors the visual layout of a comic book, offering his distinctive take on a classic origin story. While most films in the genre deal with bombastic action sequences, Unbreakable is a cinematic celebration of the art of the medium. Nearly every shot could be traced like a stunning panel from a great graphic novel. Through immaculate blocking and ingenious staging, Shyamalan makes the banal seem superhuman. Its style gives David Dunn's safety poncho the same weight as Superman's iconic uniform. That said, Unbreakable It is more than a dazzling spectacle, as its cerebral narrative ensures that the audience has plenty to think about.
What Makes Unbreakable a Unique Superhero Story

Related
The 10 Most Influential Superhero Movies
Superhero movies are now at the forefront of pop culture around the world. It took a lot of brilliant superhero movies to get to that point.
Superhero movies have long been criticized for their formulaic nature. Martin Scorsese made headlines when he called Marvel movies “theme park rides” rather than traditional cinema. While popular with general audiences, it's hard to deny that many comic book movies feel like corporate products. The MCU has faced strong backlash for its weak storytelling and lack of thought-provoking ideas.. Nearly every installment in Kevin Feige's mega-franchise follows the same beats, offering forgettable action along with a plethora of lazy jokes. That's not to say the caped crusaders lack artistic merit. Films like Logan They proved that superheroes are fascinating when viewed from a deconstructionist perspective, making Shyamylan a perfect fit for the genre.
Unbreakable's approach to comic book tropes reconstructs the structure of a classic origin story. M. Night Shyamalan has always been fascinated by genre experimentation, offering a unique twist on overused clichés and archetypes. In many ways, his films are classic fables from an existential perspective. On the surface, The Sixth Sense It's a conventional ghost story, albeit one with a deep sense of melancholy. However, Shyamalan builds the screenplay's ethos on grief and tragedy, adding a rich human component to a spine-chilling horror film. Unbreakable takes a similar approach to the superhero genre, eschewing over-the-top action sequences in favor of heartfelt drama.
David Dunn may be able to lift five hundred pounds, but he's no Superman. Unbreakable It's a thoughtful story that contemplates heavy themes in a genre known for escapism.. Shyamalan doesn’t care about Bruce Willis smashing heads, he’s more interested in his hero’s soul-destroying depression. Before he embraces his supernatural abilities, David is a hollow shell of an individual. He has no purpose until he fulfills his destiny as a costumed crime fighter. Dunn’s decision to embrace his role as an archetypal superhero gives his reality a deeper meaning. That said, not everyone in Unbreakable benefits of predestinationThe ending boasts disturbing implications, revealing how comic book tropes carry disturbing real-world implications.
Unbreakable has one of Shyamalan's most impactful twists

Related
10 Movie Plot Twists That Became Tropes
Many films have gained iconic status through unexpected plot twists. These plot twists themselves have become tropes of their respective genres.
M. Night Shyamalan is famous for his surprise endings. The Sixth SenseThe final frames of famously pulled the rug out from under the audience with a jaw-dropping reveal. The film's conclusion gave the story even more emotional weight, contributing heavily to its success through positive word of mouth. Unfortunately, Shyamalan was charmed by his success, adding last-minute surprises to many of his scriptsOften aimed at pure shock value, these unexpected twists derailed many of the director's future efforts. The eventThe plant-centric plot twist is one of the many reasons why it's prime material for Rifftrax. While The Sixth Sense carefully constructed to its unexpected conclusion, Shyamalan's subsequent endings have come out of nowhere. Fortunately, UnbreakableThe ending doesn't falter due to an obligatory twist.
Shymalan's superhero parody ends on a deeply dark note and flips the narrative in the process. Throughout the film, Elijah Prince serves as a mentor to David and forms a deep bond with him in the process. Born with severe osteoporosis, Prince is a character defined by adversity and hardship. He has suffered numerous broken bones and struggles to form genuine friendships due to his sheltered upbringing. Comic books are a safe haven for Elijah, as he is deeply inspired by the vignettes of commercial mythology. Sam Jackson’s sensitive performance makes his character an admirable figure, so it’s heartbreaking when Shyamalan reveals Prince as the story’s true antagonist.
Unbreakable It is above all a deconstructive work, and its surprise ending reflects these thematic ambitions.. Minutes before the credits roll, David realizes that Elijah engineered the film's inciting incident, and is responsible for many other heinous crimes. Prince has killed countless people to find his reason for being, praying for a miraculous survivor like Dunn. Samuel L. Jackson delivers a damning monologue revealing that he sees himself as a villain. When reading comic books, Elijah feels like an outsider, identifying with villains instead of typical heroes. Prince feels insignificant unless he embraces his role as a Machiavellian mass murderer. Nicknamed Mr. Glass, Elijah is ultimately trapped in a persona constructed on the conventions of pop culture..
Why Unbreakable is Shyamalan's Masterpiece

Related
Best M. Night Shyamalan Movies, Ranked
M. Night Shyamalan is an iconic director, author of films such as Knock at the Cabin, Unbreakable and Old.
M. Night Shyamalan has spent years as a source of ridicule among online commentators. While his ambition, however great, does not always align with his peculiar concepts, he is nonetheless a talented visionary. All of Shyamalan's films are deeply eccentric and boast big ideas with utmost sincerity.which seems especially rare in an age of superficial, multi-million dollar blockbusters. With few exceptions, the man is incapable of producing images that are anything less than captivating. Even his most recent efforts like Knock on the booth AND Trap prove that the director is still full of creativity. Unbreakable It is probably his masterpiece and one of the best superhero films of its decade.
The Sixth Sense It may be Shyamalan's most lauded work, but it's not his only cinematic marvel. Unbreakable is a fascinating deconstruction of society's consumerist obsession with comic book heroes and continues to be thought-provoking 20 years later. Going against the grain, Shyamalan founds the genre and uncovers new emotional layers in the process. It's a visually dazzling examination of existential terror, boasting tour-de-force performances from both Sam Jackson and Bruce Willis. Unlike recent superhero parodies like Kick ass OR Dead Pool, Unbreakable examines narrative tropes with thoughtful maturity. In doing so, Shyamalan's film remains a source of intrigue in an age of Marvel fatigue and proves he's a talented director..

Unbreakable
- Director
- M. Night Shyamalan
- Release date
- November 22, 2000
- Launch
- Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Wright
- Duration
- 1 hour and 46 minutes