The Sixth Sense Review

The Sixth Sense

Release Date: 7th October 1999 - Australia

Production Companies

Hollywood Pictures

Spyglass Entertainment

The Kennedy/Marshall Company

Distribution

Walt Disney Studios Motion

Pictures Australia

Genre: Thriller

Rating: M

Runtime: 107 minutes

Budget: $40,000,000

Box Office Gross: $672,806,432 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Child psychologist Malcolm

Crowe has just received an

award when a disgruntled

ex-patient visits him. He

shoots Crowe and then

kills himself. A few months

after his fateful encounter,

Crowe has to help a 9-

year-old boy named Cole,

who shares the same

problems as the former

patient. Cole can see 

"dead people" who don't

even know they are dead.

Because of this, the

other kids at his school

call him a freak and drive

her mum to wit's end. At

first, Crowe thinks he's

seeing things. He spends a

lot of time with him, much

to his wife's dismay. Then

Crowe realises Cole is

telling the truth.

Cast

Bruce Willis - Malcolm Crowe

Haley Joel Osment - Cole Sear

Toni Collette - Lynn Sear

Olivia Williams - Anna Crowe

Trevor Morgan - Tommy Tammisimo

Donnie Wahlberg - Vincent Grey

Peter Anthony Tambakis - Darren

Jeffrey Zubernis - Bobby

Bruce Norris - Stanley Cunningham

Glenn Fitzgerald - Sean

Mischa Barton - Kyra Collins

Greg Wood - Mr. Collins

Angelica Page - Mrs. Collins
Samantha Fitzpatrick - Kyra's Sister
M. Night Shyamalan - Dr. Hill

Crew

Writer/Director - M. Night Shyamalan
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Sam Mercer

Producers - Frank Marshall,

Kathleen Kennedy and Barry Mendel

Casting Director - Amy Kaufman

Production Designer - Larry Fulton
Art Director - Philip Messina

Assistant Art Directors - Charles E. McCarry

and Scott P. Murphy

Set Decorators - Douglas A. Mowat

and Susannah McCarthy (Uncredited)

Costume Designer - Joanna Johnston

Director of Photography - Tak Fujimoto

First Assistant Director - John Rusk

Second Assistant Director - Scott Robertson

Second Unit Director/Film Editor -
Andrew Mondshein
Stunt Coordinator - Jeff Habberstad

Special Effects Supervisors - Garry Elmendorf

and Keith Marblehead (Uncredited)

Effects Supervisor: Stan Winston Studio -
John Rosengrant
Digital Effects Supervisor: Dream Quest -
Tim Landry

Re-Recording Mixer/Sound Designer/

Supervising Sound Editor - Michael Kirchberger

Additional Sound Designer - Paul P. Soucek

Re-Recording Mixer - Reilly Steele

Foley Artists - Marnie Moore and

Margie O'Malley

Music - James Newton Howard

Executive in Charge of Music: Buena Vista

Motion Pictures Group - Kathy Nelson

Electronic Score Producer - J.T. Hill

Score Recordist and Mixer - Shawn Murphy

Awards

2000 Academy Awards
Best Picture - Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy
and Barry Mendel (Nominated)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Haley Joel

Osment (Nominated)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Toni Collette
(Nominated)
Best Director - M. Night Shyamalan (Nominated)
Best Original Screenplay - M. Night Shyamalan
(Nominated)
Best Film Editing - Andrew Mondshein (Nominated)

Review

It's the most recognised feature of the once-famous director M. Night Shyamalan. THE SIXTH SENSE shared acclaim among audiences and critics for its sheer mystery, suspense, drama, and scare factor. However, its superbly written conclusion thrills viewers with a completely unexpected reveal. The follow-ups in the later years from the same director, like the abysmal The Last Airbender, After Earth, and a few other movies, weren't up to the challenge of enduring the masterful quality in THE SIXTH SENSE. Except maybe Unbreakable if I get to watch it as an alternative. Likewise, this movie proves to Shyamalan that he is a capable director for the Hollywood spotlight.

Besides the twist ending, the chemistry of the two lead characters was ahead of its time. One of them is a young, troubled child who keeps audiences speculating and forming conclusions. Only to reach the movie's shocking conclusion, which blows away all your preconceived ideas.

I enjoyed Bruce Willis as one of the lead actors in the film's star-studded cast. I am certainly not into his usual macho style in action-hero movies. He brings real depth and sincerity to his character. I really liked young Haley Joel Osment's performance. He created a character with fear, anxiety, and distress that was impressively done. It's a miracle that none of these young stars, like Jake Lloyd in Star Wars: Episode I, could match his promising talents.

I considered THE SIXTH SENSE a great movie. It is one of the three luckiest of M. Night's movies. I've been waiting for a long time to watch this atmospheric film, but now it's finally happening. It leaves you so terrified you can't even watch it yourself!

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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