I did not know exactly what to expect

Rating: 9/10 (21 February 2000)

When I initially entered the movie theater to watch The Sixth Sense, I did not know exactly what to expect. I liked the genre in general, and I had heard good reviews about this film from people I knew. However, I did not expect it to be nearly as good as it was.
Several elements made this film a success: the plot, the acting, the special effects, and the filming staff.
First, the plot was excellent. It was well thought out, and I was not expecting the ending. Usually, I find most films lately to be predictable with minimal plot and a high dependency on special effects and explosions to sell themselves. This film was different. It led you one way only to let you know at the very end that your perception of the situation was way off course. The plot had enough twists and turns to keep me interested in seeing more, and I actually watched it a second time a week later just to catch everything that I had missed the first time.
The acting was excellent.
Haley Joel Osment puts forth an excellent, believable performance as the tormented Cole Sear who claims that he "can see dead people." His performance is so real that you forget that he is acting. He definitely is a young actor with a lot of potential, and I hope he wins the Best Supporting Actor award for this movie.
Bruce Willis shows his full range of acting abilities in this film as well. He portrays a Dr. Malcolm Crowe, successful child counsellor who is troubled by the fact that he ultimately failed on one of his former patients. He is using Cole Sear, a young boy with similar problems, as a way to (in his mind) compensate for his former failure. Bruce Willis should have been nominated for Best Actor for this film.
Toni Collette does an excellent job as Lynn Sear, Cole's mom. She deserves to receive the Best Supporting Actress award. She portrays a mother who is perplexed by her son's unwillingness to communicate with her and by her perceived lack of esteem in her mother's eyes.
Olivia Williams also does a great job as Anna Crowe. She believably portrays a wife who is depressed by her seemingly degenerating relationship with her husband, Dr. Malcolm Crowe.
Donnie Walhberg's brief (pardon the pun!) cameo at the beginning of the film is spooky to watch as well.
The special effects of the film were well done. The film really built up suspense in various key parts. The makeup and props for the dead people were done very well.
Finally, the staff did a good job making this movie. M. Night Shyamalan did a good job directing this film. The music complemented its respective scenes very well.
Overall, this is a good film with lots of philosophical depth. I definitely recommended it to anyone.