The Sixth Sense (1999)

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Story: M. Night Shyamalan

Cast: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette

Music: James Newton Howard

Time: 107 minutes

Bottom-line: If you are patient enough for the twist ending, you will like it

Arguably M. Night Shyamalan’s magnum opus, and one of the most celebrated supernatural films of all time, The Sixth Sense stars Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment in the lead roles, with Toni Collette and Olivia Williams in the supporting roles. Known for its twist ending and acting, the film’s pace is an issue, but by the end, it is one hell of an experience. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, but won none.

I see dead people.

Philadelphia: Doctor Malcolm Crowe (Willis) is a child psychologist who has just been honoured by the Mayor for his work. As he spends the night at home with his wife, Anna (Williams), they find a man in their bathroom, who accuses Crowe of failing him. The man, Vincent, shoots Crowe before committing suicide. The timeline shifts several months ahead, when Crowe is on his next case: a 9-year-old named Cole Sear (Osment), very similar to Vincent. Determined to make up for his failure with Vincent, Crowe devotes all his time to the boy, even putting his family second. Cole’s mother, Lynn (Collette) is also worried about her son, especially after seeing signs of physical abuse. As Crowe and Cole spend more time together, Cole finally reveals his secret that he can see ghosts. As Crowe urges Cole to communicate with the ghosts and find out their purpose, it slowly starts to reflect on his own life and troubles as well. 

 

Osment as Cole, and Willis as Crowe 

Though the story is most famous for its twist ending, Shyamalan wanted to make it more than just a horror tale. Infused with the main story are elements of sentiment, especially involving the relationship between Cole and his mother, and between Crowe and his wife. These seemed to throw the plot off-course, but by the end you realise that it is this sentiment that gives meaning to the incidents you see. There are a lot of hints to guess the twist, but all of them ingeniously hidden.

 

Collette as Lynn, and Osment as Cole

The Sixth Sense is often categorised as a horror film, but it’s not. It involves supernatural elements, yes, but apart from a handful of gory imagery involving lynched bodies and bloodied “corpses” – and one particular scene where Cole encounters the ghost of a young girl – there isn’t much horror. Shyamalan creates that jolt in the viewer because of clever camerawork – and background score – such that you don’t expect the person to suddenly appear – a recurring technique in his films. 

Haley Joel Osment’s acting is something you should look out for. Eleven years old when the film was made, the child actor shows incredible maturity and talent in portraying the troubled boy. Toni Collette’s performance – although overshadowed by that of Osment – is equally brilliant. Her character is quite complex: she is in a position to defend her son’s supernatural abilities though she doesn’t believe them herself. She always puts her son first, in contrast to Crowe, who progressively gives lesser and lesser time to his wife. I also liked Collette’s role as a mother in Little Miss Sunshine.

So, The Sixth Sense is widely regarded as a supernatural classic, known for its acting and climax. The story gets slow at times, but there’s always a surprise around every corner. It’s well worth a watch.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 85%