The Sixth Sense (1999)

Director:

M. Night Shyamalan

Writer (WGA):

M. Night Shyamalan (written by)

Release Date:

6 August 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | 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 | Spirit | Ghost | Psychiatrist | Young Boy

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

Color:

Color (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:

Director Cameo: [M. Night Shyamalan]Dr. Hill, who examines Cole Sear after the "accident" at the birthday party.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Malcolm is waiting to meet Cole for the first time, we get a shot of the paper he's been writing, and a good look at certain circled words that compare Cole's case to an earlier case. Later, after their meeting, we get a chance to read that paper, and it becomes obvious that the words he had already written were actually a description of the event yet to occur: his first meeting with Cole.

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:

Referenced in Failan (2001)

Soundtrack:

Head

You'll be knocked for six

This is an incredibly powerful film. Awash with emotion but never stooping to sentimentality this is the story of one frightened little boy you will never forget. All your worst childhood nightmares: the noises in the attic, the intruder in your house, that cold breath that makes your hair stand on end are here and then some.

Bruce Willis gives one of the best performances of his career as the child psychologist trying to get himself back on track after a violent encounter with a former patient and it would be a crime if Haley Joel Osment were overlooked at coming awards ceremonies for his powerful performance here. It has been a long time since a child actor displayed such maturity in a role. Cole's innocent little face hidden behind his absent father's large-framed spectacles betrays a child coming to terms with a terrifying secret in the only way he can.

You don't need to go and see this film again to realise why the end is such a surprise but you will rush out to watch it again purely because it's an almost perfect example of it's genre.

Laugh, cry, jump a mile out of your seat, sigh with relief - but not too early... We did!