The Sixth Sense (1999)

“I see dead people”

Little kids; they’re so annoying. Some of them actually have intelligence and are pretty reasonable. Some need hitting, some need a hug, and only a few, like 1%, need guidance…because they see dead people.

The Sixth Sense was M. Night Shyamalan’s first film in which he wrote, produced, and directed. The film follows a little boy Cole Sear, played by Haley Joel Osment, who knows way too much. He’s a bullied kid and he starts to get counseled by the equally troubled child psychologist Dr. Malcolm Crowe, played by Bruce Willis. Each character has their own problems in life, but Dr. Crowe gives up when Cole reveals his deep dark secret.

The movie was a real shocker, from the unforgettable opening scene to the equally unforgettable climax. Shyamalan really does create a very eerie atmosphere around this one. It’s a ghost story with an unusual character in the backdrop of an unusual Pittsburgh neighborhood. Shyamalan’s great directing skills however really paid off with the young Haley Joel Osment. He wasn’t some child star who wanted the attention. He was in the I’m-going-to-act-natural attitude and it really worked. I think he went off a little too unnoticed by the general public. Another great acting contribution is Toni Collette, who played Cole’s struggling mother Lynn. She deals with every parent’s worst nightmare, adding more depth to this thriller.

The whole story is very real to every kid. As a kid, you start to realize the hate the other kids in school have. You always say that you’re the outcast, the lonely kid, and that you need attention. Cole really played that part right. He was the kid “making up stories”. I don’t think this was an intention by Shyamalan, but it’s what I gathered. Also, the kid’s relationship to his psychologist was a bit ironic and reversal; Dr. Crowe seemed to be the one feeding off Cole’s indirect advice. It helped though in the end and played the part of the resolution.

The Sixth Sense is a creepy movie that gives you goosebumps at the visuals. It’s played out very well and with the good cast, script, and direction, I give the film a 3.5 out of 5. You can buy the film on DVD now.