Superheromovies may now be the dominant force in the cinematic universe, but there was a time when this was far from the case. Now, audiences can go back in time to when nobody had ever heard the abbreviation MCU, and superhero movies were able to be a little more…unorthodox, as director M. Night Shyamalan’sUnbreakableis now available to stream onHulu.
Shyamalan did dark, gritty, and grounded superheroes on the big screen long before it became the trend thanks to Christopher Nolan’s belovedBatmantrilogy. StarringBruce Willisas an everyman who has always felt he has a special purpose,Unbreakabledelivers a beautifully haunting take on the comic book movie, teaching audiences about the mythos of comic books at a time before you could buy Avengers merchandise in every corner.
Written, produced, and directed byM. Night Shyamalan,Unbreakablestars Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Wright, and Spencer Treat Clark and remainsone of the filmmaker’s best. You can check out the official synopsis for the superhero thriller below.
“David Dunn (Bruce Willis) is the sole survivor of a devastating train wreck. Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson) is a mysterious stranger who offers a bizarre explanation as to why David escaped without a single scratch – an explanation which threatens to change David’s family and his life forever.”
Unbreakable Is the Perfect Movie for Those Suffering With Superhero Fatigue
With the dominance of the superhero movie has come the inevitable saturation, withsuperhero fatigue now a diagnosable afflictionin many a cinema-goer and movie lover. Well, while you may have had enough of third acts that explode into CGI behemoths or convoluted tales of the multiverse,Unbreakabletells a grounded story about a new kind of superhero. One who really is just a normal man (with a broken marriage, a dead-end job, and a distant relationship with his son) who happens to possess superpowers and the will and want to use them for good.
Unbreakable: Why It Is M. Night Shyamalan’s Best Film
M. Night Shyamalan’s superhero-thriller starring Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson is more than just a twist.
Released in 2000 following the release of Shyamalan’s critically acclaimed, pop culturesmash hitThe Sixth Sense,Unbreakablebrings a sense of eeriness to the world of superheroes as Willis’ mild-mannered David Dunn is taken under the wing of Samuel L. Jackson’s mysterious Mr. Glass. First denying his destiny, Dunn slowly learns that the secret about himself that he has tried so long to bury is true, and it is only in embracing his superhuman side that he will find contentment.
Unbreakabledid eventually become another superhero franchise, with 2016’sSplitbeing a secret sequel (the last few moments will be remembered forever by any fan of Shyamalan’s work) while 2019’s divisiveGlassbrought the trilogy to an end. But just forget all that,fire up Hulu, and either finally check out, or rediscover, the quiet suspense ofUnbreakable. It truly was ahead of its time.
Unbreakable
