A subdued thriller with a pleasant surprise

Rating: 9/10 (2 August 1999)

Sixth Sense: What if you could interact with ghosts? This is the "gift" that 8-year-old Cole (Haley Joel Osmont) must deal with every waking moment, never knowing what disfigured spectre will cross his path next. His teachers think he's dysfunctional, his classmates call him a freak and his mother doesn't know what to make of him. Enter Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis), eminent child psychologist (Bruce Willis) who sees Cole as a chance to redeem himself for perceived past failures.
First let me state that the advertising for this movie is somewhat misleading as this isn't a horror movie in the classic sense. Given the premise it may sound strange to say that, but the bulk of the movie is spent trying to make us understand Cole's situation rather than trying to scare us every thirty seconds. That said, there are some very good scares.
Osmont does an excellent job as the troubled Cole, showing maturity beyond his years - he conveys the terror of his situation without being melodramatic (if only he'd been available for Phantom MenaceÂ…). Expect to see a lot more of him in the future.
It was also nice to see Willis given a chance to display his acting talents for a change, rather than just blowing things up (not that I don't enjoy that as well). Maybe this will finally give Willis some well deserved credibility and more challenging roles in the future.
Finally, although this movie does not exactly keep up a blistering pace, it had one of the best surprises I've seen since "No Way Out".
Enjoy.