Fracture and Fragmentation of Actual Cinema Hero and Villain in M. Night Shyamalan’s “Unbreakable”

Abstract

Today, the contemporary film hero has changed disappearing and often being confused, changing their perception, interpretation and narrative construction-archetypal. One of these changes or mutations that we found is based on the fracture and fragmentation of the hero. Such fragmentation involves lost characters feeling absence and being unable to accept their identity that generates consequences in the way of construction of the rest of the associated hero characters and plot. In this paper we analyze a particular fragmented hero, David Dunn, and how close is the relationship between him and the antagonist, Elijah Price, written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan in “Unbreakable”, revealing this as a fact. As a result we will see how the story of Unbreakable is constructed in a very peculiar way. This fragmentation is represented so that the villain will acquire qualities and functions of other archetype present in the hero's journey, as a mentor, to apparently help David Dunn. Also the plot is constructed so fragmented that hides a clear threat that pursues the hero, confronting him, veiling his goal or task (defeat the villain). There is only one driving force, a kind of journey focused on the mystery of identity. Finally we conclude with what Shyamalan twist ending reveals, a unique interaction with the villain and hero, discovering why the true nature of the protagonist and his nemesis turns: they are incomplete, fragmented, until they accept/discover themselves.