The Sixth Sense (1999)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

M. Night Shyamalan

Writer (WGA):

M. Night Shyamalan (written by)

Release Date:

6 August 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

"I see dead people"

Plot:

A boy who communicates with spirits that don't know they're dead seeks the help of a disheartened child psychologist.

Plot Keywords:

Child Psychologist | Ghost | Psychiatrist | Young Boy | Seeing Dead People

Awards:

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 31 wins & 37 nominations

Cast

Bruce Willis	...	Dr. Malcolm Crowe
Haley Joel Osment	...	Cole Sear
Toni Collette	...	Lynn Sear
Olivia Williams	...	Anna Crowe
Donnie Wahlberg	...	Vincent Grey
Peter Anthony Tambakis	...	Darren (as Peter Tambakis)
Jeffrey Zubernis	...	Bobby
Bruce Norris	...	Stanley Cunningham
Glenn Fitzgerald	...	Sean
Greg Wood	...	Mr. Collins
Mischa Barton	...	Kyra Collins
Trevor Morgan	...	Tommy Tammisimo
Angelica Torn	...	Mrs. Collins
Lisa Summerour	...	Bridesmaid
Firdous Bamji	...	Young Man Buying Ring

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense thematic material and violent images.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Latin | Spanish

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:18SG | Brazil:12 | Japan:R-15 | India:A (cinema release) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Nova Scotia) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:16 | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Barry Mendel Productions

Trivia:

Reputedly, Haley Joel Osment got the role of Cole Sear for one of three reasons: First, he was best for it. Second, he was the only boy at auditions who wore a tie. Third, M. Night Shyamalan was surprised when he asked Haley Joel Osment if he read his part. Osment replied, "I read it three times last night." Shyamalan was impressed saying, "Wow, you read your part three times?" To which Osment replied, "No, I read *the script* three times."

Goofs:

Continuity: When Malcolm and Cole meet in the church for the last time, a patch of hair is sticking up from the right-hand side of Cole's head. The hair becomes less frisky between shots until it ends up well combed.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Anna Crowe: It's getting cold.
Malcolm Crowe: That is one fine frame; one fine frame that is. How much...
[he sits down with a grunt]
Malcolm Crowe: ...does a fine frame like that cost, do you think?
Anna Crowe: I never told you, but you sound a little like Dr. Seuss when you're drunk.

Movie Connections:

Featured in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Thrills: America's Most Heart-Pounding Movies (2001) (TV)

Soundtrack:

I Fall In Love Too Easily

A movie that will not be outclassed in its genre for years to come

When I first saw The Sixth Sense, I didn't know what to expect. I guess I was looking forward to a good scary horror flick. I was very surprised. I found that the purpose for this movie was far greater than just trying to scare the audience. I found this movie was showing not only the emotions of fear, but also faith, commitment, sadness of loss, and love. The end was so surprising, I had to see it again. The second time I watched it, I did it from a totally different perspective (this is a very rare quality for any movie), and I enjoyed it just as much, or maybe even more. I also, as many viewers have, tried to detect fallacies in the story. I couldn't find one. In addition, for those that appreciate great soundtracks, the music only helps to heighten the experience of the movie.

I believe that a great movie is one that helps the viewer perceive life and the world differently. The Sixth Sense is one of those extraordinary movies that does that to me. This movie reflects on some difficult subjects that will make the viewer walk away asking eternal questions. Questions about death, about letting go, about eternal love and commitment, about the love between parent and child, and between husband and wife. Maybe I read too much into this very wonderful film, but I believe it will be difficult to find a movie that has touched on these subjects so poignantly and so well for years to come.