Is Happily Ever After an “Unbreakable” Promise? Spoiler!

Although one of Shyamalan’s least popular films, “Unbreakable” is perhaps his strongest. Bruce Willis plays David Dunn, a sad man with lost purpose in life. He has emotionally ended his marriage to Audrey, played by Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright Penn). Surviving a horrendous train wreck without a single injury, he is contacted by the extremely fragile Elijah Price, played by Samuel L. Jackson. Physically opposite from each other, they also see life from opposite points of view. Elijah sees the dichotomy of good and evil- the hero and the villain- portrayed in comic books but very much a part of real life. David is dying on the inside; estranged from his wife, the woman he left a life of possible football stardom for back in college. Life for David has not turned out happily ever after. It’s interesting that although David is physically unbreakable, he’s internally shattered. This unlike Elijah, who has an unbreakable spirit but whose body shatters quite easily.

At first, David doubts. He’s never examined his life. He works at the local college stadium as a security guard. He’s trying to move to New York. In the opening scene, he hits on an attractive woman on the train right before it crashes. He’s wounded, doesn’t know it, and lives a life of fear and pain. As Elijah tries to convince David who he is and that he’s a hero in a world that needs him, David turns from skeptic to reluctant believer. Part of his power includes the ability to see the bad things people do when he has contact with them. As he grows in his understanding of his role, he’s confronted with a choice; either look the other way when he sees evil happening around him, or do what he can to help those who are victimized.

The film centers on David’s journey as he grows into the hero that he’s supposed to be. As he fulfills his role, his relationships with himself, his son, and (most dramatically) with his wife are healed. He doesn’t wake up sad anymore. His nightmare is over.

The parallels to real life are amazing. How many of us are lost and broken because we aren’t fulfilling the role we’re supposed to? How are we incomplete because we’re not true to who we are? Who are we hurting by our resulting neglectfulness? How can we step into the role of bringing hope to a hopeless world? Unbreakable begs answers to these questions.