The first movie in the Eastrail 177 trilogy got the ball rolling with “Unbreakable” in 2000, and carried its momentum later with 2016’s “Split.” For 2019, “Glass” perfectly ties its predecessors differing plotlines together. The imagination of writer-director M. Night Shyamalan can be disturbing due to its nightmarish characters and cinematography, but the movie itself is a thrilling masterpiece.

“Glass” picks up three weeks after the events of “Split,” which introduced us to Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy) and his 23 personalities, specifically The Beast. David Dunn (Bruce Willis), or “the Overseer,” has taken on the role of vigilante, working on tracking down injustice with his son, Joseph (Spencer Treat Clark). Using the supernatural strength he gained in “Unbreakable,” Dunn’s crusade eventually leads him to four cheerleaders held captive by Crumb. Afterward, both end up in a mental institute under the supervision of Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson) for believing they have supernatural powers. There, the two meet Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson), and the tale begins. The storyline revolves around Price’s mission to prove the existence of “superheroes” despite Dr. Staple’s attempts to convince the three men of their delusions.

Subtle yet remarkable, McAvoy’s portrayal of “The Beast” gradually taking over Kevin’s body is the highlight of the movie. The twitching of his limbs and his veins slowly expanding to unnatural thickness add to the inhuman “Beast” persona. Crumb’s traumatic childhood, with abuse from his mother and loss of a father figure, explains his current mental issues. Much like Crumb, other characters are also fully developed with references to their past. The backstories of the characters create life-like personalities, and the actors’ perfect execution of their character creates a more real, engaging experience with the audience.

While the characters were stunningly delivered, the movie also bore a considerable amount of plot holes. During Price’s attempt to break out of the mental institute, there was no one except one nurse who was busy talking to the security guard. Considering Price had already been caught rolling out of his room, realistically the facility would have had more surveillance on him. With the knowledge that he’s a technological genius, they also would’ve had more staff in the building as well.

“Glass” is a unsettling yet gripping film that captures the wonder and complexity of the human mind, earning an A- for the beautiful flow of getting to know each character as well as the profound cinematic techniques.