M. Night Shyamalan Fan Theories That Should Be Their Own Spinoffs

While Dr. Ellie Staple from Glass is a member of the Black Clover society, there might be more to her than meets the eye.

Redditor u/jperkins79 suggests that she's actually the fourth superpowered human, possessing powers of mental control. This would make sense, given that her powers of mental persuasion seem to make both David Dunn and even members of Kevin's Horde doubt their own abilities. It is possible that her powers are even suggested by the comic book that Joseph Dunn picks up in the store, which features a villain called "The Whisperer."

This would also fall in line with Glass's comment that every super has an opposite. While Dunn and the Beast are clearly each other's opposites, could Dr. Staple be the enemy of Mr. Glass? Elijah Glass seeks to create and shed light on other superpowered humans, while Staple's mission seems to be to destroy them. David and Kevin's rivalry is based on physical strength, but Glass and Staple seem to have a rivalry all their own. 

Did Shyamalan plan to connect Unbreakable and Split all along? Reddit user u/Park240 theorizes that not only was that the plan, but that it was also hinted at in Unbreakable. Remember the scene where Elijah Glass's mother lures him away from the safety of their apartment by leaving him a comic book on a bench outside? If you look closely at the cover of the comic, it could be seen as foreshadowing the showdown between the Beast and David Dunn. 

Shyamalan uses color symbolism in his films, which would provide evidence to this theory. In each movie, David is regularly seen wearing green, Kevin is often in yellow, and Elijah favors purple. So the idea of a hero wearing green could stand for David, a beast wearing yellow would work for Kevin and his Beast personality, and the fact that purple surrounds the whole scene is perfectly symbolic of the role that Elijah plays in bringing them together for their epic rooftop battle. 

Among the big signature twists in M. Night Shyamalan's film repertoire was the discovery that both Unbreakable and Split take place in the same universe, sharing the same characters. Along with Glass, Shyamalan made cameos in all of them as the same character, first as a dealer in Unbreakable, then as a tech wizard named Jai who helps Dr. Fletcher spy on her patients in Split. In Glass, Jai shows up at David's security shop to buy equipment and recognizes David as the security guard from Unbreakable. His appearance in Glass acts as proof that the work David was doing made a difference. 

Prior to the release of Glass, which confirmed this connection, Redditor u/Cynical-Sam posted a theory that the characters played by Shyamalan are all the same person - a credible theory that was eventually proven to be true. 

In The Visit, a couple of youngsters named Becca and Tyler are invited to visit their grandparents (who they've never met), only to discover it is not their grandparents who have invited them at all. It is revealed that their real grandparents have been slain by two mental patients from a local asylum that they used to visit as counselors. The imposters then assumed their identities. 

It doesn't take long for things to unravel as the fake grandparents get progressively crazier. Redditor u/Spoggy theorizes that their rapid mental decline could be due to the fact that they're coming off of a great many medications.

If you're one of the many fans who was hooked by the ultra-creepy set-up in Signs, only to leave the theater mumbling "Seriously? The aliens are defeated with water?," then you're not alone.

However, Redditor u/ZorroMeansFox asks the question: What if they weren't aliens at all, but demons? Remember that the movie doesn't feature advanced alien technology or multi-million dollar special effects, but relies more on simple practical effects using light and makeup. 

Also, keep in mind that Mel Gibson's character is a man of God who struggles with a crisis of faith. Coincidence? Maybe not.

Another key hint is that his daughter is sometimes referred to as being "holy" or "an angel." Could it be that the water she's placed around the house is actually holy water?

Then there's the announcement that an ancient method of slaying the invaders was first discovered “in three small cities in the Middle East,” which could be a reference to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, the three major faiths that sprang out of the region.

Last but not least, there's the movie's name itself. Signs is a reference to "signs and wonders," which is distinctly biblical. 

Some thought Lady in the Water was a beautiful movie, while others found it confusing. If you find yourself in the second group, then a fan theory by Redditor u/MohoJoeJoe may help.

On the surface, the film is about a group of people who live in an apartment complex called The Cove, where they're visited by a mythical water nymph named Story (hint number one). Redditor u/MohoJoeJoe theorizes that the characters from The Cove may be archetypal characters from a variety of different stories who band together to get Story to safety. Their efforts contain a great deal of symbolism about what it takes to bring an actual story to life. 

Notice that the only character who actually perishes in the movie is the critic Harry Farber, which shows that great storytellers must overcome both their own inner critics and the negative opinions of others.

Then there is the character played by Shymalan himself, a struggling writer who is working on a book called The Cookbook. He's later told that in order for his work to become known, he will have to perish, but The Cookbook will have a huge impact on a young boy and will inspire him to greatness. This could symbolize that once a writer creates a story, often only by overcoming their own ego, it takes on a life of its own.