Unbreakable – Shattering Superheroes
No Kimmy Schmidt to be found here. Bruce Willis stars as David Dunn, an all time alliterative name, in Shyamalan’s fourth feature film, Unbreakable.
When David Dunn is the lone survivor of a devastating train crash, he is tracked down by Elijah Price (Samuel L Jackson), a comic book superfan with a rare bone disorder. Price tries to convince Dunn he cannot be harmed and to use his powers to help people.
This isn’t a typical comic book movie based on IP. No, we get Shyamalan’s original take on the superhero origin genre, and in my opinion he does a great job. From Dunn’s superhero “costume” – a raincoat with the hood up – making him a hooded figure of justice, to the flowing long takes and unbroken shots, this film feels very unique to the superhero genre. Compared to all the Marvel movies of today, this film is a breath of clean air.
The acting here is great. Bruce Willis and Sam Jackson steal the show as expected, but the performance of Spencer Treat Clark as Joseph Dunn (David Dunn’s son) really impressed me, especially the scene where he helps his father discover the limits of his strength.
What makes Dunn so compelling as a protagonist is how he is riddled by his own self doubt. He spends much of the film in denial of his supposed powers that Price insists that he possesses. I connect that emotion to my own doubt and how I often underestimate myself (but sometimes the power is real and inside you all along). This doubt is rejected by all others in his life – his son firmly believes he is a superhero, his wife believes they can turn their failing marriage around, and Price believes he is well beyond ordinary.
The character of Price is a complete foil to Dunn. Where Dunn cannot be harmed, Price’s bones will snap at the slightest bump. Where Dunn has doubt, Price believes. Dunn is pragmatic, but Price is an idealist. Dunn has lines he will not cross, Price has no such boundaries. They are a fascinating character study.
M Night shoots the action scenes in a very grounded, real way. When Dunn fights off a home invader, the camera is above them as they brawl, like God above is watching them, unblinking and impervious to the outcome. Even though Dunn cannot be hurt, the stakes still feel real.
The twist at the end pushed the film to an abrupt conclusion. I didn’t love it, but I bought into it thematically. I would’ve loved ten more minutes at the end to wrap everything up, but overall I won’t harp on it too much.
This is the first in Shyamalan’s Eastrail 177 trilogy – followed by Split and Glass, both of which I am excited to cover in the coming weeks.
Shyamalan Rankings
I’m gonna comfortably slide this week’s entry into the number two slot, as I don’t think it compares to The Sixth Sense.
- The Sixth Sense
- Unbreakable
- Wide Awake
- Praying With Anger
Next week, a movie I absolutely LOVED the first time I watched it: Signs
I get what he was doing. A superhero story of the ordinary man. Maybe similar to what I know about ulysses. But it was a bit boring for me. It felt as if he lacked a whole lot interesting to say. I’m warming up to it a bit and maybe upon second viewing I’ll like it more. But rn I feel like film was perhaps the wrong format, as I felt it dragged for much of the film. Not to take any away from the directing however which was solid as always