I turn my back on the darkened room and begin walking down the hallway. The room was empty, but something triggers my senses. Goosebumps pop on the back of my neck and start an avalanche down my arms. A chill slides along my spine, and my pace down the hall quickens. I make it to my room and close the door without looking back into the now black hallway, The door is locked; I am safe, and the oogie boogies cannot get me. Haley Joel Osment and I are kindred spirits. No, not spirits, completely normal, living humans.
Because I have an active imagination and am a bit of a wuss when it comes to the super-para-natural, stories and movies on the subject have a strong effect on me. This is why M. Night Shyamalama’s The Sixth Sense is a stressful view. I’m a big boy adult now, however, so it’s less of an ordeal now than when the movie released. Despite my bravado-fueled machismo, there are still creepy moments to make my breath catch.
The Sixth Sense comes in at #89 on AFI’s Top 100, which means we’re starting to leave the borderline, questionable members of the list. I like this entry but have been too insecure to watch it more than twice in my lifetime. Let’s look at the highlights.
- Bruce Willis has hair, but it doesn’t negatively impact his acting. Seriously though, Willis is good here, portraying a sympathetic child psychologist with a degree of melancholy stemming from his character’s personal life. He’s as engaged as he needs to be while also being appropriately aloof. The role, however, feels a bit non-Willis. I’m sure with a little research I’d be able to answer this question – was Bruce the envisioned actor for that role or did he dazzle in auditions? I imagine the casting conversation went something like: “Come do a scary movie they said. It’ll be fun. We’ll have a few laughs.” (I probably butchered that Die Hard reference.)
- The Sixth Sense launched M. Night Shanahnahnah into the stratosphere. I remember back in ‘99 this dude was heralded as the next prodigious combination of storytelling and filmmaking. Yeah, The Sixth Sense blew a lot of minds, but things never got back to that level for Mr. Shyamalan. He set the bar too high right out of the gate. Unbreakable never stood a chance. Signs was entertaining but it wasn’t The Sixth Sense. By The Village, I think viewers were tired of not getting another dose of The Sixth Sense mojo and had become less willing to accept another Shyamalan movie that wasn’t about seeing dead people. Overall, I like M. Knight and his movies I’ve seen, except The Last Airbender. That movie is unholy-level bad. Yet, M. Knight Slamma-Whamma-Big Reveal-Mamma-Jamma often displays a knack for creating tense sequences with gravitational characters who pull in action from the surrounding world. He’s also dropped a few wet turds. Regardless, he bottled lightning with The Sixth Sense to create a cultural icon and a memorable viewing experience. This movie sticks with me whether I want it to or not.
- Haley Joel Osment could act as a kid. Honestly, if kid me had played that role, I’d be scarred for life. Haley nailed it, and I obviously cannot picture anyone else playing that part. Unfortunately, he’ll always be the kid that saw dead people, so his characters today are essentially caricatures. But hell, Haley can ride that gig straight to a cushy retirement.
- Twists. The twists and the final big reveal are the foundation that make The Sixth Sense iconic. For my initial viewing, I remember being so drawn into the minute-by-minute happenings, that when the payoff hit, I was floored. Watching it now, the hints and setup are all there, but I don’t know how you catch them without already knowing how the movie ends. It’s all carefully crafted to hide the secret without obscuring it. All these years later and knowing how the movie plays out, I remained an engaged viewer.
So yeah, The Sixth Sense is a good movie. Talented people came together and made a highly entertaining cinematic experience. Does The Sixth Sense belong on the AFI Top 100? Yes. Should it be at 89? Sure, that feels appropriate. Give it a watch or a re-watch, and you can see dead people too. I’m sure you’ll be braver than me – twenty years later The Sixth Sense still gives me chills.
HobbyScope 