Good Story, Great Performance, Flawed Film

Rating: 8/10 (14 August 1999)

First, the bad. Some rather glaring lapses of logic for the sake of dramatic effect: (1) When you are scared at night, you turn lights on. Screenwriter/director Shyamalan isn't skilled enough to evoke suspense without resorting to trite devices like leaving lights off, or the "Alien" gimmick of uncovering horrors that logic says best be left alone; (2) when your son is locked in a dark closet by two bullies, you usually say something to the bullies, you don't just walk off with your babe in your arms; (3) the first reaction of a shrink to his patient's visions isn't "I don't see anything" - in the real world, the response is "What do you see?" (4) slow pacing, again for the sake of suspense, succeeds only in making the film drag in places.
Now, the good. Bruce Willis is really quite good in a quiet, sensitive role, although some of this "sensitivity" comes across as obtuseness.
Better: the story is a wonderful "What if". What if we could help those who have died with unresolved issues? Unfortunately, some plot elements introduced here are left - literally - hanging, such as those poor souls on the gibbet in the schoolhouse. And, yes, a great twist ending.
Best: Haley Joel Osment. This kid is one of the best young actors I've ever seen. The way he handles a very difficult role - intelligent, sensitive, tormented, haunted. I was watching for a lapse of character (waiting for lines, hamminess); it didn't happen once. Reminded me of Cagney: always "on".
Better than "Ghost". I gave it an "8".