If everyone says it's good it has to be bad. Right?...Wrong!

Rating: 10/10 (17 June 2001)

One told me the brilliant ending and I guess this was what ruined the movie for me at first sight. It was good but not as brilliant as everyone said. But I wasn't sure about my opinion on this film. It needed at least one more view. And now I recognized the craft that is behind this movie. Brilliant timing, brilliant story, brilliant acting. And it was only now that this film really scared me. And it gets more with every viewing. Ten more times and I will end up with a heart attack.
This film doesn't need any gore. In fact you see only a glimpse of what Cole has to suffer his whole life, hour for hour. And believe me, it's enough. M. Night Shyamalan takes about an hour to introduce the characters to us. And he does it very effective and carefully. We learn about Cole's fears. A nine year old child, spending his whole life hiding from ghosts, not able to overcome his fear to tell anyone. We learn about Cole's mom who is tired of not knowing why her son shudders, why he is haggard at times. We learn about Dr. Crowe's troubles to create a equalization between his private- and working life after getting shot by a former patient whom he couldn't help. The reason why he wants to help Cole so badly. This takes about a third of the film. But isn't boring a minute. Who isn't touched by the way Tony Collete and Haley Joel Osmont share a scene is definitely in the wrong film and should go see any Dolph Lundgren film of his choice.
It's amazing how well this film does in every aspect of filmmaking that even this is scary. Everything, the script, the cinematography, the sound, the music, the directing, the acting. It all builds a whole. A brilliant one.
A classic up there with Braveheart.