31 Days of Halloween: Day 20

The Sixth Sense (1999) Direct: M. Night Shyamalan

 

I don't remember how old I was at the time, but back in the day Bravo played this TV special that was the countdown of the 100 Scariest Movie Moments.  The program was pretty terrible and it was vague as to what was consider a "moment."  At times it was a single scene, when others it seemed like they were talking about the entire movie.  "Moments" was just a gimmick to separate Bravo's list from all of the others, but I wish they would have at least carried through with it.  The list was also filled with spoilers.  As I watched it the began to talk about The Sixth Sense, and blasto, they gave away the ending.  From that point I decided I had no interest in watching the movie, since I knew the ending.

That ended, obviously.  I'm going to talk about the ending now, so if you somehow don't know it, then go away.

I see...well, you know.

People would tell me that The Sixth Sense is still worth watching if I know the twist because, "it's fun to see how it's hinted at throughout the movie."  Oh, okay, sort of like Fight Club (1999).  Then five minutes into the movie, Bruce Willis gets shot.  Oh, okay, like the hint where Bruce Willis just dies?  How did I miss that the first time?  I'm curious if I could have guessed the ending even if I hadn't known it.

Other than that whole spoiler, twist ending thing, The Sixth Sense is a fun movie.  I wouldn't say it's anything special, but it's certainly fun.  The film is currently ranked 89th on AFI's top 100 movies list, which is a complete joke, and further goes to show that that list is garbage.  This isn't one of the top 1000 American movies, let alone 89th.  Sheesh. 

The whole things bleeds basic filmmaking.  There is nothing exceptional about Shyamalan's directing, or even the story, for that matter.  It's sort of interesting, but unfortunately when one starts to think about the details and question things, it kind of begins to crumble a bit. 

For example:

1. Why can't the dead know their dead, other for the fact that that point needs to be there for the twist ending to make sense?
2. If the don't know their dead, then what are the people hanging thinking?
3. So wait, why do some ghosts hurt Cole?  It never seems like any of the ones we see are threatening at all.
4. How can ghosts physically interact with some things, but not others?
5. How does Cole know his teacher used to stutter?  Did a ghost tell him?  A friendly one who just talks to Cole?
6. If ghosts don't know they're dead, then how come that little girl lead Cole to find a tape that showed how she died?
7. Cracked talks about the ending also. 

All in all, this is a good popcorn flick, but nothing special.  Of the three films Shyamalan has made, I would rank this third, with Unbreakable (2000) at number one, and Signs (2002) at two.