Glass (2018) Review Roundup

The new movie from M. Night Shyamalan, Glass, is now in theaters in the US. Prior to its release, reviews were released online, and the film is getting a mixed reaction from critics.

GameSpot's Michael Rougeau said in his Glass review that it has elements that fans will enjoy, but overall, the movie focuses too much on "all the wrong things."

"Like most of Shyamalan's movies, Glass is well directed and scored, and there are moments of brilliance and tension throughout," Rougeau wrote. "But when the twist is literally that the climax won't actually be as exciting as you've been led to believe, it's impossible not to feel disappointed."

Glass brings together characters from Shyamalan's previous movies, Unbreakable and Split. It was confirmed at the end of Split that it's set in the same universe as Unbreakable.

You can see a rundown of Glass reviews below, while more information on the film's critical reception can be found on GameSpot sister site Metacritic.

Glass

• Directed By: M. Night Shyamalan
• Written By: M. Night Shyamalan
• Starring: Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, James McAvoy, Sarah Paulson, Anya Taylor-Joy
• Release Date: January 18 (United States)

GameSpot

"Glass isn't the movie it should have been. There are hints of it early on, before the film takes a left turn and spends the rest of its stay focusing on all the wrong things. Like most of Shyamalan's movies, Glass is well directed and scored, and there are moments of brilliance and tension throughout. But when the twist is literally that the climax won't actually be as exciting as you've been led to believe, it's impossible not to feel disappointed." -- Michael Rougeau [Full review]

ScreenCrush

M. Night Shyamalan is a gifted artist, but like most of the characters in the Glass series, he seems to have multiple identities, both good and bad, and you never know which one is going to show up. In the case of Glass, it's the latter. When Unbreakable came out, it felt truly revolutionary. Given the visual and intellectual sophistication in the superhero movies Hollywood now churns out at a regular clip, Glass just doesn't cut it." -- Matt Singer [Full review]

The Hollywood Reporter

"Is Glass the least satisfying chapter of an often enjoyable, conceptually intriguing trilogy? Or is it an attempt to launch a broader Shyamalaniverse, in which ordinary men and women throughout Philadelphia and its suburbs will discover their own inspiring abilities? Marketplace realities make the latter more likely. Here's hoping the former is the case." -- John DeFore [Full review]

Variety

"It's good to see Shyamalan back (to a degree) in form, to the extent that he's recovered his basic mojo as a yarn spinner. But Glass occupies us without haunting us; it's more busy than it is stirring or exciting." -- Owen Gleiberman [Full review]

The Wrap

"If Unbreakable and Split are some of the strongest works in Shyamalan's filmography, Glass holds a place somewhere in the middle between those and the titles that turned off so many moviegoers. But don't count out Shyamalan just yet. There is enough experimentation--such as the stirring POV shots during the fight scenes--that shows a director still pushing his craft to bring his viewers something new. He's not done surprising us." -- Monica Castillo [Full review]