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The Sixth Sense: A Rare Film

by Marjorie Dorfman | More from this Blogger

04 Apr 2006 03:33 AM

The Sitxh SenseProduced in 1999 and directed and written by M. Night Shyamalan, this movie is one of four horror films to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. Nominated for six Academy Awards, the film is a classic ghost story, which abounds with chills and thrills. It was so popular that the year after its release it was rented by 80 million people, making it the top rated DVD and tape for the year 2000. When pitching the film, Shyamalan referred to it as a cross between "The Exorcist" (1973) and "Ordinary People" (1980). Starring Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Olivia Williams, Mischa Barton and Haley Joe Osment as Cole Sear, this is a story about communication of a special kind; one that surpasses the human experience and goes beyond the natural realm.

The plot centers on a child psychologist, Malcolm Crowe, who is called upon to examine a little boy who "sees dead people." He is a man who six months before was shot by a former patient, and he spends a great deal of time with the boy, much to the dismay of his wife. At first, he believes the child is indeed deluded, but as the story progresses he discovers that Cole may be seeing dead people after all.

Haley Joe Osment shines in this ghost story. Reputedly he got the part for three reasons. In the first instance, he was the best suited for it; in the second, he was the only little boy who came to the audition wearing a tie. Thirdly, when he was asked by the director if he read his part, he replied, "I read it three times last night." Impressed the director replied, "Wow, you read your part three times?" "No", replied Osment, "I read the script three times."

A surprise ending and several genuinely frightening moments keep the audience riveted to their seats and make this film a must see for all lovers of the thriller genre.

Have YOU seen this scary movie? What are some of YOUR favorite moments?

 
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Learn more about Marjorie Dorfman
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Marjorie Dorfman is a freelance writer and former teacher originally from Brooklyn, New York.

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Marjorie Dorfman (2577) 04 Apr 2006 11:53 AM

Hi Libby-

I feel so bad for their child, Will Reeve, who despite all his inherited wealth is a very poor child indeed!

Thanks for sharing as always.

Libby Pelham Online! (12866) 04 Apr 2006 12:51 PM

There are three horror movies that scare the heck out of me to this day - The Shining (original), Poltergeist, and The Sixth Sense. The wholve movie is just creepy, but in a good way :-)

workingdad (2084) 05 Apr 2006 04:04 AM

It's really an overboiled Twilight Zone episode, if you ask me -- Rod Serling covered this ground numerous times, and to tighter effect, since the show was only 30 minutes (with one season of 60 minute episodes). The kid is good, and Collette and Willis are fine, but it was pretty obvious what was happening.

Marjorie Dorfman (2577) 05 Apr 2006 09:27 AM

Hi TB White- Interesting point and well-taken, but did you know that some of the material Rod Serling used was not exactly original and came from a 1940s movie? ("Dead of Night.") He was a genius in his own way, though. I thought the ending to Sixth Sense was a surprise. Anyway, thanks for sharing.

Marjorie Dorfman (2577) 05 Apr 2006 09:29 AM

Hi Libby, I agree. Those two other films were scary also, but in a different way than the Sixth Sense. Anyway, thanks for sharing as always.

workingdad (2084) 05 Apr 2006 12:10 PM

Marjorie -- as a matter of fact, Dead of Night is one of my favorite films. The Michael Redgrave sequence where he plays the drunk ventriloquist is brilliant. Serling was obviously influenced by many a sci-fi writer, esp. Ray Bradbury, but what makes him great was his ability to write terrific morality plays without lapsting into the pedantic (well, he was guilty of that, too, but his best stuff was not!).

Nicole Humphrey (15757) 05 Apr 2006 01:06 PM

The Sixth Sense was one of my favorite movies. I truly felt the ending was a surprise the first time around, and I'm a major critic when it comes to horror and scary films. I didn't know the information about Haley which I found interesting. That's one talented little actor.

Marjorie Dorfman (2577) 06 Apr 2006 10:01 AM

T.B- Yes, Rod Serling was a very talented man who died too soon. I agree about the Redgrave asewuence in Dead of Night, but how about the one with the dead child? Gives me the creeps just to think about it and I write horror stories!

Marjorie Dorfman (2577) 06 Apr 2006 10:05 AM

Hi Nicole- I agree about the ending being a surprise. And Haley is a very talented little boy. Someone suggested that if Willis's character is dead, how did he make an appointment with Haley? I suppose they have a point. What do you think?

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