Is the “Glass” movie half-full or half-empty? The answer partly depends on whether or not you’re a fan of “Glass” writer-director M. Night Shyamalan.

“Glass” is the third in Shyamalan’s “Eastrail 177 Trilogy” that began with “Unbreakable” (2000), which starred Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson, and continued with “Split” (2016), which starred Willis and introduced James McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joy in the series.

Eastrail No. 177 refers to the derailment in “Unbreakable” of Train No. 177.

Willis (security guard David Dunn, aka The Overseer), Jackson (Elijah Price, aka Mr. Glass), McAvoy (Kevin Wendell Crumb, diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, who has 24 personalities), and Taylor-Joy (Casey Cooke, who adores Kevin) are joined by Sarah Paulson (psychiatric Dr. Ellie Staple).

Returning from “Split” are Spencer Treat Clark as Joseph, Dunn’s son, and Charlayne Woodard as Price’s mother.

Dunn and Crumb are taken to a psychiatric hospital where Glass is already incarcerated.

The performance by McAvoy (“Atonement,” 2007; “The Last King of Scotland,” 2006) is something to behold. The multiple personalities he portrays include Patricia, Dennis, Hedwig, The Beast, Barry, Heinrich, Jade, Ian, Mary Reynolds, Norma, Jalin, Kat, B.T., Kevin Wendell Crumb, Mr. Pritchard, Felida, Luke, Goddard, Samuel, Polly, It’s an astounding piece of acting. McAvoy switches “characters” in a second, and is convincing portraying each.

Jackson (Oscar supporting actor nominee, “Pulp Fiction,” 1994) manages a facial tic and is silent until (no spoilers here) things get really scary.

Willis (“The Sixth Sense,” 1999; “In Country,” 1989; “Die Hard,” 1988) presents a contained performance, projecting an inner resolve that makes you wonder what he’s thinking at all moments.

Paulson is effective as a doctor with an agenda. Taylor-Joy has a memorable screen presence.

Lehigh Valley residents, and especially Allentown residents, will be intrigued identifying scenes at the former Allentown State Hospital, where “Glass” was partly filmed in October 2017. Most of the cinematography is of exteriors. There are also some interiors of the former hospital. There’s a brief scene of Hanover Avenue in the vicinity of the hospital. A skyscraper-enhanced Philadelphia skyline is superimposed as backdrop to the hospital in some scenes.

“Glass” has innovative cinematography by Director of Photography Mike Gioulakis and a jittery, pounding soundtrack by composer West Dylan Thordson.

Shyamalan (Oscar director, screenplay, picture nominee, “The Sixth Sense,” 1999, which received six Oscar nominations; “Signs,” 2002; “The Village,” 2004; “Lady in the Water,” 2006; “The Happening,” 2008; “The Last Airbender,” 2010; “After Earth,“ 2013; “The Visit,” 2015) creates extreme tension in “Glass” in the best sense of a psychological thriller. Some scenes are disturbing.

Shyamalan’s screenplay presents many fascinating questions. It provides few answers. The answers are up to you, as is your evaluation of “Glass.” Is “Glass” half-full or half-empty?

“Glass,”

MPAA rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Parents are urged to be cautious. Some material may be inappropriate for pre-teenagers.) for violence, including some bloody images, thematic elements, and language; Genre: Science-Fiction, Thriller, Drama; Run Time: 2 hrs., 9 mins.; Distributed by Universal Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

The “Glass” end credits thank the City of Allentown, and Allentown Police Department. Ukee Washington, a news anchor for KYW Channel 3, Philadelphia, who had roles in “Split,” “Signs” and “Unbreakable,” is seen as himself in a portion of a televised news report segment.

Box Office,

Jan. 25-27: “Glass,” with on-location filming at the former Allentown State Hospital, continued unbroken at No. 1 two weeks in a row, with $19 million, $73.6 million, two weeks, as “The Upside,” which includes scenes filmed at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton, and the Lumberville-Raven Rock Bridge, and Black Bass Inn, Bucks County, continued at No. 2, with $12.2 million, $63.1 million, three weeks, as “Aquaman” again floated at No. 3, with $7.3 million, $316.6 million, six weeks.

4. “The Kid Who Would Be King” opened out of the money, with only $7.2 million. 5. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” an animated feature Oscar nominee, again hung on at the same place, $6.1 million, $169 million, seven weeks. 6. “Green Book” moved up nine places, bolstered by its Oscar bounce of five Academy Award nominations, $5.4 million, $49 million, 11 weeks. 7. “A Dog’s Way Home” ran down one place, $5.2 million, $30.8 million, three weeks. 8. “Serenity” had a not so serene opening, $4.8 million. 9. “Escape Room” ran down another two places, $4.3 million, $47.9 million, four weeks. 10. “Dragon Ball Super: Broly,” $3.6 million, $28.9 million, two weeks.

Unreel,

Feb. 1:

“Miss Bala,”

PG-13: Catherine Hardwicke directs Gina Rodriguez, Anthony Mackie, Ismael Cruz Cordova and Matt Lauria in the action thriller. A young woman is caught up in crime on the border.

“Arctic,”

PG-13: Joe Penna directs: Mads Mikkelsen and Maria Thelma Smáradóttir in the drama. A man tries to survive after his plane crashes in the arctic.

Four popcorn boxes out of five popcorn boxes.