"The Sixth Sense"- An incredible, frightening and even heartfelt thriller. One of the finest horror films of the 90's. Perhaps even of all time.

Rating: 10/10 (15 November 2016)

At the time of its release, M. Night Shyamalan's tense and arresting thriller "The Sixth Sense" was something of a cultural phenomena. A revelation in the world of horror, and one of those few films that emerges every so often to remind us of just how invaluable and under-appreciate this genre is. And of the great heights it is capable of in the hands of great storytellers and master filmmakers.
While Shyamalan's career has gone through its highs and lows in the ensuing years, one fact has remained constant in the near-twenty years that have passed since this 1999 release: No matter what, "The Sixth Sense" is still looked upon with nothing but admiration and adoration from critics and filmgoers alike, being held in the highest regards. Some even consider it a modern classic, set to go down among the other greats like Carpenter's "The Thing" or Wise's "The Haunting." And I am very much in agreement with this. It's a beautiful and meticulously crafted experience that not only delivers the thrills and chills like any good ghost story should... but it also delivers plenty of heart and very human drama that keeps you wholly invested.
Bruce Willis stars as Child Psychologist Malcolm Crowe, a man haunted by a home invasion one year prior in which a troubled former patient shot him and then committed suicide in front of he and his wife. With a growing rift in his marriage due to the trauma, Crowe seeks redemption by helping a young boy with similar emotional problems to his deceased patient- Cole Sear, as portrayed brilliantly by Haley Joel Osment. However, Crowe doesn't realize the severity of young Cole's plight, and soon comes to learn a startling truth... Cole can see the ghosts of people with unfinished business. Malcolm realizes he must help Cole to try and control this unique gift... this terrible curse... and to try and figure out what the spirits haunting young Cole want.
Shyamalan crafts his tale and directs the film with a certain sensitivity and tact that works wonders for conveying the themes and scares alike. His script is always intense but with just enough levity to allow the audience to catch their breath between the more frightening of scenes, and he expertly handles his characters with a deliberation that I admired. Every single character present has their purpose in the story, and all are handled exceptionally well. Especially our two leads, who both go through very well thought-out arcs that realistically develop and change who they are throughout the narrative. There's also a surprising among of heart present in the script that will draw you in with its identifiable moments of human drama. As much as it is about haunting spirits tormenting a young child, it's also a film about a man trying to fix his own life and marriage, and about a young boy dealing with his unique gifts while trying to maintain a connection with his troubled mother. There's some very powerful work done in terms of these sequences and they help to elevate the film as a whole.
The visual direction is just wonderful. Say what you will about his later, shoddier work, but Shyamalan knows how to convey a scene with keen use of lighting, composition and movement. His recurring motifs, such as the color red or the use of lowered temperatures are really good indicators that something terrible is about to happen, and they will instantly put you on edge as an audience member, with the hair on the back of your neck standing straight up.
Beyond that, the cast is just magnificent and are a key piece of the puzzle as to what makes the film such an immense achievement. Willis, often known for his gruff tough-guy roles, is given the role of a lifetime as the troubled Malcolm, and is able to stretch his acting chops in a way that many of his more recent works cannot touch. It's a film that reminds us of just how much we love Willis as an actor first and foremost, and he plays it to perfection. Osment, now known more for his work in quirky B-movies and voice- over roles, excels as one of the finest child actors I've ever seen in his defining part. He gives Cole such a sense of pathos and maturity that is far beyond his years. He also nails the scenes of a frightened child, terrified of the ghostly figures that are following him. And Toni Collette, who I adored in her incredible series "United States of Tara" makes for a wonderful supporting role as Cole's mother, Lynn. A troubled person trying to hold herself together for the sake of her child.
In the end, "The Sixth Sense" excels thanks to these wonderful contributing factors, and emerges as a flawless and frightening excursion into the other side. It's scares will keep you up at night, afraid of what may be lurking in the dark around you. And it's very human and emotional drama will touch you in a way many other recent horror films simply cannot compare to. It's an undeniable modern classic, and not only is it one of the best horror releases of the 1990's... it may be one of the greatest horror films ever made.
And for this reason, it easily and skillfully earns a perfect 10 out of 10.