A clever, scary but intelligent film with one almighty twist

Rating: Null/10 (7 October 1999)

This movie is about a young boy's ability to see ghosts, or dead people, walking around like everybody else. But instead of gruesome scenes with plenty of blood and gore, the film takes a more intelligent, dark, yet riveting path. It combines elements of several genres, including horror, but also drama and thriller.
The plot focuses on the relationship between child psychologist Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) and Cole (Hayley Joel Osment), the young boy. Having apparently failed a similar young boy years before, Malcolm is determined to rectify his previous failure, and in doing so, redeem himself. This is especially so after the boy he failed, now a man, broke into his house, shooting Malcolm before turning the gun on himself.
The acting was top notch, particularly Willis, Osment and Collette (Cole's mother), and on a couple of occasions I was truly scared, having no idea what was going to happen. Few films today (The Blair Witch Project is perhaps the exception) are able to truly scare an audience, but this certainly is one.
What makes this film really good however, is the twist at the end. If you haven't watched the film, now is a good time to stop reading, otherwise, keep going.
Anyway, to find out that Malcolm had been dead all along when he was originally shot (and he didn't even know it) was very clever, and during the film you don't have a clue. But when that realisation comes, it suddenly clicks. "Sometimes they don't even know they're dead", Cole once said. Very apt.
All in all, a very good film that'll make you scared at times, but is very cleverly crafted, and makes you think. It's nice to see Willis portray a more serious and complex character; certainly a pleasant change.