“Split” was an attractive film starting off 2017 in the box office, but some fear that it might do more than just leave viewers’ heads spinning.

The film has become controversial within the mental illness community in regard to accuracy of the main character’s battle with dissociative identity disorder (DID), according to CNN.

Fewer than two weeks after its release, “Split” has generated about $46 million at the box office.

Critics have categorized the film as an unexpected comeback for writer and director M. Night Shyamalan. While his previous films were not considered stellar by critics, “Split” has more than left viewers’ minds spinning.

Dr. Garrett Marie Deckel explained the disorder as a coping mechanism that arises in individuals who have experienced chronic abuse. Those individuals make up 1 percent of Americans. Through “dissociating” parts of themselves from a high stress or agonizing situation, patients can break away from their reality.

Research presented in the 2008 Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease shows that those afflicted with DID are less likely to be violent toward others compared to their likelihood to self-harm.

Iowa State’s National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) chapter president Hannah Nehring has a very different perspective on the media stigmatization of the mentally ill.

Having grown up with a parent suffering from bipolar disorder, Nehring was inspired to engage in conversations related to mental illness.

“I wanted to address this stigma and make a difference in the lives of those who have been affected by mental health conditions — both the individual and their family members and friends,” Nehring said.

Nehring said she initially thought the horror film’s mentally ill antagonist was “creepy, unpredictable and dangerous.”

She said she understood why the use of a mentally ill character keeps audiences “on guard,” but added that films often unfairly portray the individuals living with mental health conditions.

Nehring added that the films can harm the public’s view of the mentally ill and provoke victims to avoid needed treatment out of fear of judgement.

Nehring also thought the situation was disappointing and looks forward to the upcoming opportunities the film has stimulated to discuss mental illness.

She encourages moviegoers to take the time to do research and realize the inaccuracy of media-generated stereotypes before heading to the theaters.