An emotionally riveting work disguised as a horror/thriller.

Rating: 9/10 (24 August 1999)

M. Night Shyamalan has outdone himself. The script is sensitive in its subject matter and intricate in its plotting. Outstanding direction and visually engrossing cinematography (- the mood is established from the first shot). I was so enraptured by the storytelling and pace that I didn't see where the plot was headed. Each scene has definite purpose and gives us further insight into the characters.
Simply the best movie I've seen this year (1999). Haley Joel Osment deserves an Oscar nomination. This is not an easy role for a kid to play and he holds his own in every scene w/Mr. Willis. Little Haley Joel supposedly made the director cry while delivering his lines. That is powerful acting. I would rate his performance among the best by a young actor, ranking close to Leonardo Dicaprio in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" and Anna Paquin in "The Piano."
If you haven't seen this film, and I suspect there will be a few that decide not to go, I urge you to go see it even if you are averse to the "horror genre". While the thrills are plenty, there are also moving human stories beneath the surface.