His control of his voice, body language and facial expressions is without a doubt the envy of much older actors. Rather then the monotone voice of most actors his age, Osment has a vocal range that holds your attention even in the softest whisper. Add to this an excellent supporting cast and you almost forget you are watching a film. Very often what takes a film from above average to extraordinary is the director. M. Night Shyamalan.
Every scene is well crafted, framed like a gothic masterpiece.
While this director is new to movies he also should achieve greatness as his career develops. His cuts, segues and use of music weave a tapestry of intricate detail. Little details so subtle that you must watch this movie several times to get them all, add a distinct flavor to this film. Terror builds as the film progresses. It rarely jumps out at you but rather it grows like a small, disquieting feeling of dread.