A very creepy film.

Rating: 9/10 (9 August 1999)

What's going on here? The summer of 99 has produced 2 very intensely creepy films. First Blair Witch takes us all by storm and now the Sixth Sense does the same thing. What we have here is a film that does all the things that a "horror" film should do. It uses shadows, it has talk of the dead and the undead and it even uses other things like atmosphere and music to produce a very good scary film, and one that will have you buzzing about the ending.
Young Cole can hear and see dead people and it is up to Dr. Malcolm to help him out. The story itself is interesting and how it is carried out is even better. But I have to say that I think this is a film that should be seen twice to figure everything out and to understand all that it is. Because when you leave the theater you will question many aspects of the film. You will wonder if it is legitimate in it's approach and honest and realistic with what the end of the film has wants us to believe. But when I walked home and had a chance to examine it, I realized how truthful it is, and that makes it even more brilliant. And in a way this film reminds me of a 1987 film called Angel Heart. Both films concentrate on foreshadowing and they also play with our intellect. When I first saw Angel Heart, I knew that it was good, but when I began to watch it more often on video, I realized that Angel Heart was a film that had more to it in every shot. Every single time the camera rolled, there was always a subliminal meaning behind the ersatz one that was in front of us. And that is what I think Sixth Sense does so well. You wonder at first why Malcolm can't get into his basement, and then when you leave the theater and think about the film, you realize how much it all made sense. This is a film that manipulates our psyche and plays with our ethos. But it has a great time doing so. I highly recommend this film, especially if you want to be frightened. There are about five or six really good moments in the film that make your heart stop. And on that level the film is terrific. But as a film, not a genre piece, this is top notch and dare I say that Cole may be remembered at Oscar time. Go see this film!