31 Days of Halloween: Day Twenty

The Sixth Sense (1999 – Rated PG-13 in the US for a freaky kid, wine dringing Bruce Willis and seing dead people)

Summary (from IMDB):

Malcolm Crowe is a child psychologist who receives an award on the same night that he is visited by a very unhappy ex-patient. After this encounter, Crowe takes on the task of curing a young boy with the same ills as the ex-patient. This boy “sees dead people”. Crowe spends a lot of time with the boy (Cole) much to the dismay of his wife. Cole’s mom is at her wit’s end with what to do about her son’s increasing problems. Crowe is the boy’s only hope.

RB Wood’s Rating (out of 5): 4 ghosts

Okay, it’s looking more and more like M. Night Shyamalan is a one hit wonder, and this is his one hit. Haley Joel Osment is brilliant in his first real role as Cole Sear, a child with a special gift.  Bruce willis plays Malcolm Crowe, an man who survives an attack in his home by his expatient.  His next client, Cole Sear, has the same issues as the man who tried to kill the psychologist, so Willis’ character redoubles his efforts to try and cure the troubled child.

Osment’s portrayal of the young boy who sees the dead…not only sees them but is like a beacon for them to visit, is brilliant.  The creep factor is enhanced by Willis trying to hold his life together while his marriage falls apart.  His wife seemingly won’t speak to him after the attack.  The chilling scenes with the ghosts Osment sees are well done and are still scary even upon multiple viewings.  The twist, of course (SPOILER) is that Willis’ Crowe never survived the attack in the beginning of the movie.  While trying to help Osment, he ends up being helped by the child in turn.  While Osment can finally admit his problem to his mother, Crowe’s unfinished business rectifying his failure to understand his attacker is finally complete. Recalling Cole’s advice, Crowe speaks to his sleeping wife and fulfills the second reason he returned, saying she was “never second,” and that he loves her. Releasing her to move on with her own life, he is free to leave behind the world of the living.

The direction and soundtrack are spot on and the acting all around is well worth it this holiday season.  Trust me, you’ll see dead people.

Tomorrow: “Look at me, Damien! It’s all for you!”

Peace