The Sixth Sense (1999)

The film is a calm, sneaky ghost story with a twist ending that recontextualizes everything intriguingly. Ebert singles out the strong performances by Bruce Willis and especially Haley Joel Osment for praise in their dialogue scenes.

The film delivers an emotionally complex ghost story in the guise of a horror movie, with nothing turning out as expected. Shyamalan's direction is a model of restraint, using subtlety, sound, and Osment's performance to create disquiet and emotional depth.

The film is a sombre, emotionally sustained humanist horror story that succeeds when it aims for emotion, with a genuine thrill from its puzzle-like twist. Denby praises its solemn gravity and the young director's talent despite occasional hackneyed scares.

The review dismisses the film as gaggingly mawkish supernatural kitsch with a treacly soundtrack and sentimental payoff. It criticizes the overly empathetic psychologist character and the story's emotional manipulation.

The film fascinates by explaining almost nothing, building from disquieting details and detours to a final reversal that questions everything. Its main appeal lies in the assured direction that fuses minimalism and overstatement, with strong performances from the cast including Haley Joel Osment and Bruce Willis.

The film is a psychological thriller that effectively builds unease through mood and old-fashioned storytelling rather than overt scares or effects. The critic singles out young Haley Joel Osment's soulful performance for praise while noting the deliberate pace may limit its appeal to some audiences.

The critic praises the central relationship between Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment as the film's real strength, lifting it beyond a standard ghost story into something more emotionally involving. The direction and screenplay are highlighted for their layered, chilling effectiveness and tight execution.