Glass: The twist ending to M Night Shyamalan's latest explained
The film sees David Dunn (Bruce Willis), Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), and Elijah AKA Mr Glass (Samuel L Jackson) cross paths
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.*WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR GLASS*
M Night Shyamalan‘s trademark has long-been the twist ending, with Glass certainly not selling audiences short.
His new film, which serves a joint sequel for both 2000’s Unbreakable and 2016’s Split, offers not just one twist, but fourth, as David Dunn (Bruce Willis), Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), and Elijah AKA Mr Glass (Samuel L Jackson) cross paths under the eye of psychologist Dr Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson).
The first major surprise of the film occurs when David’s son Joseph (Spencer Treat Clark), reveals the hidden connection between Kevin and his father, after the realisation that train accident that Mr Glass caused, which left David as the sole survivor, also killed Kevin’s father.
This left Kevin under the care of his abusive mother, which the film traces as the source of Kevin’s disassociative identity disorder, and in turn is responsible for the creation of The Beast. Elijah reveals that the death of Kevin’s father was also part of his masterplan.
However, it seems as if his vision is quashed: after the trio escape the hospital facility they were held in, they’re killed by a SWAT arriving to apprehend them.
Elijah has already had already had his brittle bones crushed by the Beast, while Kevin is shot in the chest, and David is drowned in a puddle, since his only weakness is water.
The third twist arrives when Dr Staple reveals that she isn’t, in fact, a psychiatrist with an interest in treating those with delusions that they’re superheroes. In fact, she’s a member of a secretive group determined to rid the world of both superheroes and villains before any of them reveal themselves to the public.
A final surprise arrives when it’s revealed that the footage of David and Kevin’s superpowered exploits, captured on the facility’s security cameras, was secretly downloaded by Mrow Glass and sent to Elijah’s mother (Charlayne Woodard), Joseph, and Kevin’s former victim-turned-ally Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy).
Mr Glass may have paid with his life, but it allows the three to upload the footage online and finally let the world know that superheroes are real.
Glass is out in UK cinemas now.
Follow Independent Culture on Facebook for all the latest on Film, TV, Music, and more.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments