The Sixth Sense

The Sixth Sense is the celluloid that placed M. Night Shyamalan on the map, and for a goddamn solid reason! The story begins with an esteemed child psychiatrist Malcolm (Bruce Willis) having misjudged a previous case of his. After a terrible fallout, he receives and pursues another similar study to the one he failed before in the form of Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), in hopes of rectifying his mistake this time around.

M. Night Shyamalan's writing is the primary reason The Sixth Sense is celebrated as one of the greatest motion pictures ever made in the 19th century. At this point in time, seems like everybody knows the famous revelation regarding Bruce Willis' character at the end. If you go back and watch the film even after knowing what awaits, you'll notice how astutely Night did his homework, with careful character placements and interactions to trick the minds of his audiences. While we are on the topic of writing, reading the description out of an award frame does come across as obvious exposition, but other parts such as circled descriptions on a document are absolutely effective and flawless in communicating necessary info.

Almost every scene is memorable. Not only does it reveal character, but moves the plot too. The relationship between Cole and Malcolm is adorable. The truth or false game with masterful value-charged condition design that reveals exposition without us realizing is brilliant, and so are the fake magic trick and Cole's suggestion to Malcolm to add twists to his bedtime narratives. We follow these two throughout the first half as Malcolm builds trust with Cole, before each of them revealing their secrets / truth to one another at the Midpoint. The steady progression towards Cole's secret is fantastically plotted, with Stuttering Stanley scene being intense! But as soon as we come to know that Cole sees ghost, Night completely shifts our perspective into Cole's point of view, seeing spirits walking around! Cole hesitating to go to the loo and being locked up in the 'dungeon' before deciding that listening to the spirits is the only way out of this are examples of remarkable writing! Malcolm stuck in the middle between helping the boy or going back to his family can make any grown adult cry!

All the performances are excellent, especially Harley Joel Osment! This kid understood the role so well and brought it to life without a blemish! Yes, it is a horror movie, but it's the drama embedded within that prompts everyone to keep returning to it! Toni Collette's acting as Cole's mother Lynn who can't figure out what's wrong with her son is amazing! You feel pitiful for this little family and the tragedy that's running inside it. The climax where Cole tells Lynn his secret before proceeding to reveal the conversation he had with grandmother that leads right into the bumblebee pendant issue is one hell of an emotional train wreck that consummates the boy's arc! After seeing the kid suffering throughout the runtime, Night gives us a chance to breathe sighs of relief by witnessing Cole helming the main role in his school stage play, but more importantly, our hearts are warm to see him smiling and finally be happy!

James Newton Howard's score is haunting! Tak Fujimoto's crystal clear cinematography isolates the subject of a shot with ease, directing your eyes to focus on what the filmmakers want you to. Presence of the color red and cold temperature entry are constant yet meticulous visual hints the writer-director managed to put forth! Blood and gore prosthetics effect for the ghosts are really well done too!