Split Unbreakable Glass by Wraith
When I returned to fanedit forums about four years ago after being gone for several, I noticed that several of the editors that I considered to be the masters (geniuses some) of their craft had disappeared. They had moved on to another forum (no names), got banned from a forum (sometimes you have to follow rules, m.), or disappeared entirely. Sure, fanediting geniuses like Q2 and TM2YC stuck around, fortunately. And a lot of new masters arose. Much to my dismay, one of the disappeared ones was Wraith.
About three years later…Guess who returns? Wraith. With a great big bag of fanedits to share. I guess it’s obvious what he was doing for those six years. I always thought of him as a frustrated genius who didn’t always execute his ideas in a manner that would please all of his critics. Amazing ideas. I just don’t think everyone gets him.
I’ve watched so many fanedits lately, its difficult to keep up with my promises to review them. So I held off on requesting this edit. Even though I respect Wraiths edits…I didn’t really care for the movies it is derived from. I liked Unbreakable, but bought the others out of curiosity, watched them and put them in the chest. Then the edit was recommended to me by a prolific editor whose opinion I respect. And then another. And another. And another. So I checked it out.
Quite honestly, I wasn’t really prepared for this edit. I couldn’t make his description make sense. Then I watched it…the first time. My initial reaction was…WTF? So I watched it again. Same reaction. Then I pulled out the originals and watched them. I scratched my head. I wasn’t quite sure I grasped what Wraith had accomplished with this narrative structure. Then I watched the edit again. That time I was blown away. Split Unbreakable Glass is a very deep, multilayered masterpiece in narrative restructuring.
I felt a compulsion to understand what I had watched. Wraith and I began a long discourse in which I learned what was in his mind as he compiled this amazing edit. Wraith was very transparent with me. I learned so much about the creative process that goes into such a masterpiece. There were so many “how the hell did he do that?” moments that were answered. I am still amazed at things most viewers won’t even notice.
The order of scenes from the films themselves are all over the place if they are laid out the way that they appear in the edit. However, that was to fit the narrative structure of the edit. If they are played chronologically, you find many gaps. However, in the context they were placed in, the viewer fills in the gaps.
Wraith sustains the viewers attention by presenting self contained packages of information, which are very digestible, at the same time leaving an element of “I want more”…That keeps people engaged.
The edit is presented in three acts which are very thematically disciplined. Scenes are shifted into other chapters or acts to maintain that discipline in order to ensure viewer investment.
Most of Split is gone because it contained far too much of a horror element. Had it not been watered down, it would distract from the intended pacing and unbalance a very carefully planned build up. Keeping that low in emotional tone overall had the unexpected effect (on me at least) to both significantly lift the conclusion from Glass and conclude with the best ending.
Musical motifs were only cross fertilized where they served the character or emotional moments…Long takes where preseved where they were best needed rather than trimming for trimming sake.
Glass is used to frame the early scenes. Dr Staple is not a new character. There is a reason why the film opens with her. She is in the first and last shots deliberately. This edit is about The Coalition of Evil…we just don’t realize it. Having her open completely changes the first scene and Glass still frames Elijah, which is vital.
I hope enough people watch this for the revelations that can still be fleshed out, even though we think we know these movies well. Each time I watch it I learn something new.
Even though the edit seems long, its really not. There is just enough room to breathe and for the viewer to absorb and go on the journey…and the journey is what this edit is about.
I love fanedits and the creative process. I am so grateful for the many hours that Wraith spent with me to let me into his mind regarding this edit. I will treasure that memory for a long time.
This will be Wraith’s opus. Hell, it will be one for fanediting in general. It shows just how creative you can get.
The sad thing is…history has proven that far too many creative geniuses burn a fire so bright that it burns them out. Then they disappear. It’s up to us as fans to keep them encouraged with positive feedback so that they stay with us a bit longer and share their wonderful gift.
A masterpiece that must be seen by all who appreciate a good movie/fanedit/art.
Two very enthusiastic thumbs held as high as I can hold them!
Yeah, Wraith, it was a thesis!