Most Rewatchable Scene
Split: the Barney-to-coffin stretch; Jeff discovering Diane missing at the gas station
In the discussion (15)
Approx. transcript time · 00:17:40Read transcript
- The first ten minutes establish Barney as a psychopath through his chloroform tests and preparation. — Bill Simmons
- Diane shouts that nobody can see their stopped car until they are on top of it and points out that Jeff passed ten gas stations. — Chris Ryan
- Diane entering the gas station and Jeff slowly realizing she has vanished makes the premise terrifying. — Bill Simmons
- Rita cracking Jeff’s password, putting on a black wig, and entering his command post is praised as Hitchcock and De Palma style suspense. — Bill Simmons
- Jeff saying he would let Diane be dead in exchange for certainty reveals the depth of his obsession. — Chris Ryan
- Barney hiding behind the door after Rita hears his answering-machine message uses a favorite horror trick. — Bill Simmons
- Barney’s answering-machine introduction, keychain, and calm response after Jeff beats him create a bizarre confrontation. — Bill Simmons
- The drive pairs Barney’s insistence that he is not a rapist with a roast-beef sandwich and a police stop. — Bill Simmons
- Barney’s rescue story turns into an argument about free will and balancing good with deliberate evil. — Bill Simmons
- The abduction flashback shows how a cheap bracelet offer persuades Diane into Barney’s car.
- Jeff drinking the coffee despite understanding the trap demonstrates that knowing is worth dying to him.
- Jeff waking in the coffin is singled out as terrifying and a personal worst fear.
- Rita reversing the trap and striking Barney with a shovel makes the revised ending satisfying.
- The whole stretch from Barney’s arrival through the beating, drive, coffee, coffin, and rescue is praised as a great twenty minutes.
- The final personal choice is Jeff at the gas station realizing Diane is gone. — Bill Simmons