Haley Joel Osment sees Dead People for M. Night Shyamalan

Rating: 9/10 (7 June 2009)

SPOILER: Child psychologist Bruce Willis (as Malcolm Crowe) reaches a career peak when he receives the Philadelphia "Mayor's Citation" for professional excellence. Celebrating with beautiful young wife Olivia Williams (as Anna Crowe), Mr. Willis gets drunk, and does "Dr. Seuss" impressions. The happy couple retire to their bedroom, where they prepare for sex. But, after Ms. Williams begins a playful strip, mysterious sounds are heard in the bathroom. It's Willis' former boy patient, Donnie Wahlberg (as Vincent Grey), all grown up and stripped to his underwear (briefs). Obviously quite deranged, Mr. Wahlberg sobs, "You failed me!" and shoots both Willis and himself.
The next fall, Willis has apparently recovered from his gunshot wound - but, he feels guilty about failing to help Mr. Wahlberg overcome his childhood psychosis. Willis gets the chance to help another emotionally disturbed boy, unhappy Haley Joel Osment (as Cole Sear). Young Mr. Osment reminds Willis of the man who shot him. Osment is having trouble in school, startling teachers with bloody drawings and psychic abilities. Osment is bullied by his peers, who consider him a "freak". His mother, Toni Collette (as Lynn Sear), is struggling to make ends meet, after a messy divorce. After a few sessions, Osment reveals his anxiety producing secret, "I see dead people."
M. Night Shyamalan, who also wrote, does an admirable job directing this unpredictable ghost story; he, with photographer Tak Fujimoto, works storytelling wonders with the camera; even before the revelatory last act, witness how effectively the camera sets each mood. And, the "Best Director"-nominated Mr. Shyamalan elicits wonderful performances from his cast, especially from Osment; his is one of the era's all-time best kid characterizations. But, what a subtext - if you want your kids to grow up sane, without being repeatedly scratched and welted by abusive ghosts, don't you dare get a divorce!
********* The Sixth Sense (8/2/99) M. Night Shyamalan ~ Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette, Olivia Williams