Glass

In 2019, legendary filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan returned to the screens with his gripping movie "Glass". This psychological thriller offers a captivating continuation of a narrative started by Shyamalan about two decades ago with "Unbreakable", and iterated upon in his more recent "Split". In an audacious blending of these two storylines into a single universe, "Glass" serves as both a sequel and crossover, creating a unique and electrifying cinematic experience.

Famed actors James McAvoy, Bruce Willis, and Samuel L. Jackson are the trio of protagonists in this hypnotic suspense, each reprising their roles from the previous films. "Glass" primarily focuses upon these three characters, exploring their backgrounds and motivations while further substantiating their narrative arcs in the Shyamalan story universe.

McAvoy's character, Kevin Wendell Crumb from "Split", suffers from dissociative identity disorder and has a total of 24 personalities living within him. His most dangerous alter, known as ‘The Beast’, is a hulking, superhuman creature that embodies Crumb’s darkest desires and most primal fears. McAvoy once again captivates audiences with his brilliant performance, orchestrating each of his distinct characters with ingenious skill and coherence, and leaving spectators in anxious anticipation of 'The Beast’s' next appearance.

Bruce Willis reprises his role as the unassuming security guard, David Dunn, from "Unbreakable". Since discovering his superhuman strength and invulnerability, Dunn has become a covert vigilante, using his powers to protect the innocent from criminals. Despite his innate abilities, the complexities and doubts of his superhuman existence continue to besiege him.

Samuel L. Jackson gives life to his memorable character Mr. Elijah Price, also known as "Mr. Glass", from "Unbreakable". Price is a man with a brittle bone disease that has confined him to a wheelchair but has also gifted him with a colossal intellect. Obsessed with comic book lore, he sees the world through a fantastical lens and firmly believes in the existence of real-life superheroes and villains.

These three characters find themselves in a mental institution under the careful analysis of Dr. Ellie Staple, portrayed by Sarah Paulson. Staple is a psychiatrist specializing in a particular delusion of grandeur: that of believing oneself to be a superhero. She attempts to solve the enigma of their psyches, trying to discern whether they're genuinely superhuman or severely delusional. Sarah Paulson's character adds an element of tense ambiguity as the audience finds themselves questioning the nature of perceived reality and the latent potential within human beings.

"Glass" is aesthetically striking. Shyamalan's characteristic style is present through carefully framed shots and a color palette that accentuates the story's gloomy mood and ominous atmosphere. Choreographed sequences, particularly those portraying The Beast’s untamed strength, are impressively dramatic and tense, whilst the soundtrack, composed by West Dylan Thordson, adds a relentless undercurrent of suspense to the entire movie.

The film incorporates Shyamalan's signature thematic explorations – such as trauma, identity, and the supernatural encroaching upon the mundane – while introducing new ones like the credibility of belief and the subjectivity of reality. "Glass" doesn't shy away from tackling philosophical dilemmas head-on, with Jackson's character often pontificating on existential questions concerning superheroes' existence and their purpose in our human society.

Moreover, "Glass" is particularly noteworthy for diverging from conventional superhero genre tropes while still grappling with the concept of superhuman abilities. Here, superheroes are not portrayed in flashy costumes with clear-cut moral boundaries. Instead, they are deeply flawed individuals trying to understand their place in a world reluctant to accept their existence. Shyamalan’s grounded portrayal of these characters as ordinary people grappling with extraordinary abilities creates a thought-provoking approach to the superhero genre.

In conclusion, "Glass" is a bold blend of suspense, action, and philosophy where Shyamalan shows his prowess as a filmmaker once again. This thematically-rich concluding chapter to an unexpected trilogy makes audiences question the lines between superhuman and mere human, belief, and delusion. With captivating performances from the central trio and Sarah Paulson's skeptic psychiatrist, "Glass" succeeds in concluding Shyamalan’s superhero saga in an exciting and intellectually stimulating way.