An out-of-left-field supernatural winner

Rating: Null/10 (15 August 1999)

Unquestionably one of 1999's best films, and a likely Oscar nominee in at least three categories: Screenplay, Supporting Actress (Toni Collette), and Supporting Actor (for young Haley Joel Osment...who is good enough to maybe snag a Best Actor nom). Like Keanu Reeves in THE MATRIX, Bruce Willis brings much of his usual baggage (smirkiness and tough-guy detachment) to his role, but fares well enough for the movie to succeed brilliantly. All of the supporting cast--particularly Osment--are nearly perfect and the film as a whole hardly ever strikes a false note. The story is evocative of the best of Victorian and early 20th century supernatural fiction (think Henry James, Oliver Onions, and Algernon Blackwood, for starters), and improves on themes developed earlier by such movies as GHOST, JACOB'S LADDER, and THE SHINING. THE SIXTH SENSE never feels like a collection of cliches, however--it works with the most unsettling and archetypal elements of the ghost story within an understated, non-manipulative framework. The final twist is by no means innovative--it has been a staple of supernatural horror films over the years--but it is still surprising and emotionally satisfying. Kudos to writer/director M. Night Shyamalan (who has a cameo as well) for a film that belongs among the best of Hollywood's horror output.