The Sixth Sense (1999)

Synopsis/Story

Stereotypically, movies about the supernatural and apparition are produced in a cliché way. However the sixth sense manages to construct an ordeal of ominous tension and realism throughout this obscure development of a child and an abstruse ability. Young Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment) is haunted by a disturbing secret: he has the ability to see ghosts. Cole is distraught by visits from those who appear from the dark depths of unresolved problems and regret. He is too scared to talk about his anguish, except with child psychologist Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis). As Dr. Crowe tries to reveal the truth about Cole's supernatural abilities, the consequences for client and therapist are a jolt that awakens them both to something unexplainable.

The first half of the film, is ominous and enthralling. However, once the ghosts have proven benign much of its scariness evaporates, this is well executed as it allows the viewers to take a break from the climax and direct their attention on the emotions and development of the characters, as fear can often alienate these key aspects.The young protagonist, Cole Sear portrays innocent vulnerability without the cliché melodrama and contributes to the underlying message of a very basic paternal instinct: protecting a child.

Character

The young protagonist, Cole Sear has had a life of calamity and isolation due to his divorced parents, and his secluded feeling of no one understanding him because of his severe yet discreet individuality. All of these aspects aid in the development of his character and illuminate through his social apprehension, timidness and emotionally astute mindset.

Camera. Camera angles build a shadowy visual, allowing the viewers to experience a spectral-like atmosphere as the camera slyly turns and creeps behind many of the actors. I liked this contribution as it allows the audience to feel a 3-dimensional role in the movie and aids the eerie ambience. When the ghosts appear, they flash swiftly past the camera, the temperature drops abruptly, hand-prints appear on table tops, constructing full scale revelations of seemingly ordinary spirits — with the exception of their calamitous wounds, providing the audience some of clarity on their cause of death and past-life without the tangent and over-complex side scenes. Subtlety is the main point throughout, not ostentatious but evocative trails and hints of the truth, most of them are spread out across Osment's psychically distraught face.

Sound. The background noise is a cacophony of seething breaths, the score, by James Newton Howard, splices in thunderous markers — such as just discernible evil, and snarling voices. This contributes to the overall dramatic impact. The Consistent use of eerie music aided with crescendo causes the viewers to have sub-conscious sense when something abrupt and perilous is about to happen. Quiet dialogue, and the sporadic yelp of violins display a tangible sense of dread that makes watching it an overwhelmingly tense experience.

Colour and Setting. Throughout the entirety of the movie, autumnal browns and greys prevail though the use of fire, lighting, props and colour filters. This evokes a funereal, melancholic atmosphere, which casts over the European-style architecture of Philadelphia. Cinematically, this builds to elegantly austere visuals.

The thing of note is the lack of detail in Cole’s paternal situation and preceding childhood. To the audience this can feel as through the subject gets brushed over swiftly. I would have enjoyed learning about Cole’s early childhood through the use of didactic flashbacks as it would play a key role in the development of his persona.