The Sixth Sense Review

        The 90s was both the dark age of horror and a transformative one. The prior franchises of the 80s were easily burning out do to the low quality of the product. A few films helped revolutionize the genre, particularly Wes Craven’s New Nightmare and Scream. Around the time, ghosts were popular as the basis not just for horror. Films like well, Ghost and The Frighteners highlighted the unique way to tell an unconventional ghost story. The Sixth Sense broke ground in 1999 and I feel it’s one of the best dramatic horror films of all time. 

1. Seeing Dead People 

        It’s surprising to note that this isn’t M. Night Shyamalan’s debut in the film business. This was just the third film that he made with his prior entries mostly consisting of a drama and a comedy. One was independent and another was partially released just prior to this film. I can imagine that nobody was prepared with the kind of film this would be when it came out considering that the only popular ghost film to come out was the Ghostbusters. 

        So we follow child psychologist Dr. Malcolm Crowe and his wife in their home as they’re relaxing. A former patient of Malcolm breaks in their house and shoots the doctor. Time passed as we see that Malcolm is now helping with another little boy named Cole. He harbors a secret that he can see the dead. In between helping the boy, Malcolm tries to reconcile with his relationship with his wife after the shooting. 

        Yeah, this is a different kind of horror film compared to what we looked at for the month. I feel that with horror, it’s not just limited to blood or the cheap jump scares that has taken over the genre. With the film that’s presented, the thing that makes it unique is that we’re following Malcolm attempting to help Cole since he doesn’t believe that he’s seeing ghosts. The only scary moment is when Cole’s alone and sees the dead around either his house or in his school. And I feel that part of what makes it scary is that we empathize with the boy. 

        I might as well explain further on the revelation of Cole’s gift. I love how we gradually learn that Cole does have a gift throughout the film. One would think that he’s just lashing out due to Malcolm seeing the sentences Cole wrote and his wrists being bruised and cut. All of that is just a red herring since it’s the ghosts that are communicating to him and having it be reactive to what they’ve been through. Even when Cole talks to the doctor, he explains the rules that the ghosts operate that in turn help us disseminate. 

        Both Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment are just terrific in their roles. The chemistry between them is spot on as we see how Malcolm empathizes and has Cole be comfortable talking to him. In one way, Crowe is like a father figure to the boy since it’s established that his dad is not in the picture. They are the highlight since we see that Malcolm wants his case with the boy to be a redeemer when his past patient confronted him. And I love just how deep Malcolm tries to help Cole by making him comfortable and understanding. 

            Since this is a horror film, I got to talk about how the ghosts are portrayed. I do love how there’s no special effect to tell us that yes, the dead are dead with how the characters look faded or have a mist like view to them. The way the ghosts are presented is like they’re alive but they have the period clothing that matches when they died. The special sauce is when they have a mark like a gunshot or one of them puking out poison. I’m just glad that there’s no nefarious ghost or demon that goes to haunt Cole and lower the film to a lesser degree. Cole sees the ghosts that haven’t realized that they’re dead and are practically roaming the general Philadelphia area. 

        If there’s one scene that I like is when Cole and Malcolm goes to the funeral of one of the ghosts. Cole arrives at the funeral and where the little girl had died. The ghost gives him a box containing a tape of her death. In one way, I think this is when Cole finally accepts his gift and to feel that he’s no longer an outcast. Additionally, I love how his mom slowly puts it together that her son has a gift. If there’s one thing that makes a great horror film among the best, its when it has a point in the context of the story.  

2. The Twist

        I think me and anyone within my generation has been spoiled in one way or another by just cultural osmosis. Meaning that, any conversation involving this film has to involve the twist in some shape. And while yes, I did learn about the twist before hand, I think what makes the film better is that what makes it work is just the performance and the moments of distraction. What I mean by that is whenever we see Malcolm, he always wears the same clothing including his sweatshirt. 

        Additionally, seeing it from start to finish is one thing where you must appreciate the level of detail to hide the fact that the doctor has died. Mostly where the characters are placed and just have the script convey that the wife is so distant from her husband that she leaves as Malcolm is pleading for forgiveness. I think one scene aside from the dinner scene is when Malcolm is at Cole’s house. 

        In the scene where they meet at the house, one could make the argument that Lynn and Malcolm have talked and she leaves the room for them to be alone. What makes it work is that she doesn’t acknowledge the doctor and only notices Cole. And I’ll say again, what makes the whole twist work regardless of the spoiler being out in the open is the performance and how it’s set up visually. It’s a testament for a film that’s stood the test of time after 20 some years. 

3. Legacy

        No one could’ve imagined that a horror film costing 40 million dollars would gross nearly half a billion and being the second highest grossing film of 1999. It went on to have a near critical acclaim that it would be nominated for Best Picture during the Oscars. Becoming one of the few horror films to be nominated for the prestigious award. More than anything it established M. Night as the next up and coming director. I’ve already talked about his film after this one three years ago. 

        I feel that with his directorial aesthetic, he would be the next Alfred Hitchcock. It’s very rare to pull of a twist and have it be just a flip for the audience and for anyone casual. Even Newsweek prematurely called him the next Spielberg. Unfortunately, his career would have ebbs and flows that made it seem that he lost his touch or that he’ll never direct again. I’ve only seen the film’s that Disney helped release and I feel that it’s his superior ones. Perhaps I’ll watch Signs next year to close out that phase in his career. 

4. Overall

        The Sixth Sense is one of the most creative dramatic horror films of the 90s and one of the best films of 1999.