SpaceShort answer: At the end of Split (2016), Kevin Wendell Crumb's 24th identity, the Beast, finally appears: he climbs walls, survives shotgun blasts and kills Claire, Marcia and Dr. Fletcher. He spares Casey after seeing the self-harm scars from her uncle's abuse, saying "the broken are the more evolved." In the final scene, people in a diner compare the Horde to a criminal in a wheelchair from years earlier, and David Dunn (Bruce Willis) says the name: "Mr. Glass." The twist reveals Split is set in the world of Unbreakable (2000), and the story continues in Glass (2019).
Spoilers ahead. Last updated: October 1, 2026.
What Happens at the End of Split
Kevin has 23 identities, which he calls the Horde. Dennis and Patricia, the two who have pushed the others out of "the light", kidnap three girls to feed to a 24th identity they believe in: the Beast. Dr. Fletcher, Kevin's psychiatrist, realises too late that the Beast is real; he kills her.
The Beast kills Claire and Marcia. Casey, hiding in a cage, says Kevin's full name, which briefly brings the real Kevin back; he begs her to kill him. The Beast returns, Casey shoots him with Kevin's shotgun to no effect, and when he sees her scars he leaves her alive. She is found by a zoo worker; Kevin's identities escape.
Why the Beast Spares Casey
The Beast's belief is that people who have suffered are pure and have been "evolved" by their pain, while those who haven't are "impure young". Casey has been abused by her uncle since childhood, shown in flashbacks during the film. The final shot of her suggests she may finally tell someone: when the officer says her uncle is there to collect her, she hesitates instead of going.
The Diner Scene
A news report about the Horde plays in a diner. A customer says it reminds her of the crazy man in a wheelchair from 15 years ago, and David Dunn, who has the same quiet presence as in Unbreakable, finishes: "Mr. Glass." Split is the second film of what M. Night Shyamalan calls the Eastrail 177 trilogy, named after the train crash in Unbreakable. Glass brings David, Elijah Price and Kevin together.
The Eastrail 177 Connection
Glass reveals more: Kevin's father was on the Eastrail 177 train that Elijah Price crashed to find someone unbreakable. That crash, which left Kevin with his abusive mother, is what created the Horde, so Elijah unknowingly created both the hero and the villain.
How Split Portrays DID
Mental health advocates criticised Split for linking dissociative identity disorder with violence, since people with DID are far more likely to be harmed than to harm others. The film is best understood as a comic-book origin story: the Beast's powers are fantasy, not a medical claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Split?
The Beast appears, kills Claire, Marcia and Dr. Fletcher, and spares Casey because of her scars. A final diner scene reveals David Dunn from Unbreakable, putting Split in the same world.
How many personalities does Kevin have in Split?
Kevin has 23 identities, plus the 24th, the Beast, who emerges for the first time at the end.
Why did the Beast let Casey live?
He sees the scars from her uncle's abuse and believes people who have suffered are "pure" and more evolved.
Do I need to watch Unbreakable before Split?
No, Split works on its own, but the final scene only lands if you know Unbreakable. The recommended order is Unbreakable, Split, then Glass.
Is there a sequel to Split?
Yes. Glass (2019) continues the story and concludes the Eastrail 177 trilogy.
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