What is the significance of the black spot in M. Night Shyamalan’s “Glass”?

Question

Mid-way through M. Night Shyamalan’s movie, Glass (2019), there is a blurry black spot on screen for a long time. It doesn’t stay in one fixed place nor is it present throughout the whole film, so it can’t be a problem with the projector’s optics at my local theatre.It’s too obvious and gets too much screen time to plausibly be a smudge or optical defect on the camera lens either (it would undoubtedly have been noticed). So, it must be intentional, which begs the question: why is it there? What is its meaning?

Answer 1

Hi there!

Great question. One of the things often discussed in film theory is the use of mise en scene, which is the idea that every single aspect captured in film is intentionally left there. Whether that be the composition of lighting, the editing, the use of sound, the cinematography, or color grading, everything is intentional. I love this for many reasons, the first being that it's a very logical point of view. When you think about how many people and professionals it takes to create a world for film, whether it be creating costumes, sets, lighting, props, editing the final cut, and so much more, there is a dedicated professional who puts all of their energy into creating a specific world. One of the examples of mise en scene I love is the pacing of dialogue and sound set in the Safdie brother's film Uncut Gems. If you ever notice how quickly the dialogue is and how the sounds can be jarring and disorienting and quick, it's all intentionally done to create tension and anxiety for the viewer, but it's subtle enough for you to be immersed, not intentionally seek it out. M Night Shalyman's a perfect example of a director and writer who focuses on intention and meaning. Sometimes they're more subtle aspects that allow the viewer to be informed or allow foreshadowing, but others I believe can be left open to interpretation. I haven't seen much information about the spot or interviews where they've talked about it, but I'd love to hear your thoughts!