great piece of work that sets a new standard for the genre

Rating: Null/10 (7 March 2002)

Tense, creepy thriller about a renowned child psychologist (Willis) whose devotion to his work has overtaken his personal life and put him at odds with his neglected wife. He's also in the midst of his most difficult case yet in trying to get through to a troubled, introverted young boy (an exceptional Osment) who lives in fear and trauma of his uncanny ability to see the dead. One of the most effective thrillers of its time: gripping, suspenseful, flawlessly performed, and extremely well-crafted, with sure-handed direction that allows for plenty of spooky, spine-chilling moments on its way to a startling and awe-inspiring finale. A genuinely scary thriller that actually pays off the way it should. ***Â½