THE SIXTH SENSE
A film review by Mark R. Leeper
Capsule: This is a slow and deliberate
psychological horror film about a boy who sees
visions that terrify him. They are slowly eating
away at his mind and soul. The script is itself a
trap to tantalize the viewer and snap shut only in
the final moments of the film. And it has one of
the best performances of the year from any actor.
But it is particularly amazing that the actor is
young Donnie Wahlberg. Rating: 8 (0 to 10), high
+2 (-4 to +4). Spoiler warning: The trailer for
this film tells the main premise of the plot which
would not otherwise be obvious until well into the
film. This review will reveal no more than the
trailer does. I have not seen any reviews that do
not reveal the premise.
Thematically similar to the current STIR OF ECHOES, THE SIXTH SENSE is a horror story told so subtly that it is a psychological study that is told against a backdrop that is almost magical realism. It is a mystery told so subtly that the viewer does not even recognize it as a mystery until at the end the solution is presented. Then the viewer may want to see the film a second time just to verify if the script is consistent and to see how well the mystery was hidden.
Malcolm Crowe (played by Bruce Willis) is a South Philadelphia child psychologist. He is so good at what he does he has been given a citation from the mayor. Currently he is dealing with a severely disturbed child, Vincent Gray (Donnie Wahlberg). Malcolm knows that the classic treatment and assumptions of treating children with this syndrome can be wrong. The last similar patient grew up highly disturbed and blaming Malcolm. In revenge he broke into Malcolm's house, shooting the psychologist. Malcolm desperately wants to avoid the same mistakes in treating Vincent. But from the beginning he is having serious trouble connecting with Vincent or in truth with anyone. His bad experience with the previous patient has left him almost without the emotions to reach out. What he slowly begins to discover is that Vincent is trying to adjust in any way he can to something beyond an emotional problem. His problem is that he sees the dead. It is not just that believes he sees the dead--they really are there and they talk to him. He will see a dead child, start to talk to him, and then see the back of the child's head is blown off. He lives with a thousand unpleasant jolts like this every day. The resulting shock is just more than he can handle much of the time.
Bruce Willis obviously gets top billing for this film being a veteran of so many high-grossing films. In fact he turns in one of his most subdued and best performances here. But he is playing opposite an even better actor. Donnie Wahlberg has some very difficult scenes to deliver as the haunted--figuratively and literally--child. Too young to have gone through the years of training most of today's actors have, he seems to be a natural actor capable instinctively of giving a layered performance. Whether he is remembered at Academy Award time or not he has given just about the best performance of the year and he has made a difficult film work. Certainly some credit must go to writer and director M. Night Shyamalan who must have known exactly what haunted feel he wanted from Wahlberg. Shyamalan keeps the pacing slow and ominous throughout. The James Newton Howard score is not one of his best but adds to the tension.
This is a film with some clever twists and a really good performance by a child actor. This may be the surprise film of the season. I give it an 8 on the 0 to 10 scale and a high +2 on the -4 to +4 scale.
Mark R. Leeper
mleeper@lucent.com
Copyright 1999 Mark R. Leeper
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