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Dissociative identity disorder, also known as multiple personality disorder, is a condition where two or more distinct identities or personality states coexist or alternate control of the body. This mysterious disorder has become a captivating subject for filmmakers. Follow along to explore the top best multiple personality movies of all time below and gain diverse insights into this condition.
1. Fight Club – The Arena of Life and Death 1999
Edward Norton, a skilled insurance investigator, leads a fulfilling life but suffers from insomnia. To escape this condition, he joins support groups for the terminally ill, pretending to be different people in hopes of listening and comforting them. Initially effective, this method is shattered by the arrival of Marla Singer. On a flight, he meets Tyler Durden, a soap salesman with a carefree lifestyle. After a chance encounter and a series of life-altering events, Edward teams up with Tyler to establish an arena of life and death.
2. The Shining – The Haunted Mansion 1980
The storyline revolves around the supernatural occurrences encountered by the Torrance family. Despite being a writer and a former teacher, Jack Torrance decides to take on the job of caretaker at the Overlook Hotel – an isolated hotel that is closed for the winter. Due to the nature of the job, Jack's entire family has to move there. Danny – Jack's son – possesses a special ability to see things from the past and even glimpses of the future. He is the one who discovers that the hotel is haunted, and the ghostly presence begins to drive his father insane. Things escalate when Jack encounters the ghost of Mr. Grady, the previous caretaker, who had brutally murdered his own family there.
3. Shutter Island – The Terrifying Island 2010
Two FBI agents are tasked with investigating the mysterious disappearance of a female murderer who killed her 3 children on an isolated island in the middle of the ocean, serving as a prison for the criminally insane. Upon arrival, Teddy realizes that the island has numerous issues. He witnesses the doctors of the hospital conducting inhumane and unlawful treatments on patients, and even being willing to commit heinous crimes. Following puzzling clues, Teddy believes that the dangerous criminal, Leaddis, who murdered his wife and children, is also present on the island. However, the truth turns out to be devastatingly different – Teddy himself is Leaddis, a mentally disturbed individual who killed his own wife and children, and fabricated the entire narrative on the island where he was institutionalized.
4. Psycho – Unraveling Mental Turmoil 1960
Norman Bates – a man afflicted with delusional psychotic disorder, a murderer who killed his own mother. Obsessed with his mother's harsh personality, he disguises himself as her to carry out the killings. He always believes that the real murderer is his mother. He built a motel and killed any girl who stayed there, including Marion Crane. Marion Crane, an office secretary, unable to marry her boyfriend due to lack of money, daringly steals $40,000 from the company and runs away. On her way, she stops at Norman's motel to rest. While investigating the death of her lover, Sam, along with Marion's sister, exposes the true identity of the murderer, Norman.
5. Black Swan – The Dark Elegance 2010
Nina is a young ballet dancer working at the New York Ballet Company. Like any other dancer, she has burning dreams in her career, immersed in her passion for dancing. She lives with her mother, who is a retired ballet dancer, always controlling her. When artistic director Thomas Leroy wants to choose Nina for their Swan Lake performance, Lily appears. The Swan Lake performance requires actors to play both the white and black swans. The white swan is gentle and innocent, while the black swan is evil and vicious, representing desires and pleasures. Feeling pressured about losing her role, Nina begins to experience hallucinations about her dark swan alter ego.
6. American Psycho – The Fanatic Murderer 2000
At the age of 27, Patrick has become a wealthy businessman on Wall Street possessing everything that women always desire: handsome, wealthy, sophisticated, educated, and from a prestigious family. However, hidden beneath that glamorous facade is a mentally unstable person struggling with work pressures and jealousy. To relieve it, Patrick mercilessly preys on victims whom he has skillfully seduced with expensive dinners at upscale restaurants, ranging from prostitutes to old classmates and even his closest friend.
7. The Machinist – The Mechanic 2004
The plot revolves around Trevor - a mechanic working in a small factory. He suffers from chronic insomnia, which has kept him awake for a year, causing his body to gradually deteriorate. One day, he encounters a strange new coworker who distracts him, leading to an accident that costs a colleague a hand. In Trevor's mind, a mysterious man named Ivan begins to appear, toying with his thoughts and pushing him into a state of paranoia, losing his ability to control himself. Following every clue, he discovers that the mysterious figure is none other than himself. What happened in the past?
8. Split – The Fragmented Mind 2016
Kevin, a person with dissociative identity disorder, possesses 23 different personalities within one body, among which one prominent personality dominates and acts more than the rest. However, all believe in the existence of the 24th personality named The Beast. To awaken this 24th personality, Kevin kidnaps young girls. From then on, Kevin has to struggle with the internal psychological aspects and with everyone around him. By the end of the film, The Beast has almost wiped out all other personalities except Casey, whom he calls pure.
9. Identity – Who is the Real Killer? 2003
On a dark night, amidst a torrential rainstorm in Nevada, a series of events chain react leading a number of people to stay at a motel managed by Larry. There are a total of 10 guests including a married couple with a young son, an actress with her driver, a couple of lovers on their way to Las Vegas for their wedding, a prostitute, and lastly a police officer with his death row inmate. Then, one by one, they start to disappear forever. So, who is the real murderer?
10. Mr. Brooks – The Dual-Faced Killer 2007
Earl Brooks is a highly respected and successful businessman, hailed as the man of the year. However, behind the portrait of the admired man lies a gruesome serial killer with many hidden psychological twists. The cases caused by Brooks are closely monitored by Detective Tracy, creating a chase not for the faint-hearted.
The top list of the best multiple personality movies of all time here will surely bring you moments of suspense, surprise, and haunting. Wishing you all enjoyable relaxation.
