Ghost stories are a dime a dozen, have been for decades, so it’s a herculean task to rise above the rest. M. Night Shyamalan, now a director of renown, managed to pull this off at the end of last century. The Sixth Sense actually managed to nearly top the box office in 1999, only being thwarted by Star Wars: The Phantom Menace for the top spot. It is without hyperbole one of the most affecting, brilliant written tales of the other side that has ever graced the screen. Shyamalan, in the following decades, has (some may argue self-inflicted) bore the unfortunate expectation of giving audiences a twist. As this film has one of the greatest. Revisiting this masterpiece reminded me he had/has no reason to try. He got it perfect first try.

Child psychologist Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) is shot at home by an intruder after an award night, honouring his contributions. Seems a former patient didn’t agree with his accolades. Cut to a short time later, and Malcolm is clandestinely taking notes on a meek little boy named Cole (Hayley Joel Osmand). The lad is strange, withdrawn and struggling to make friends or any connections, save for his devoted mother (Toni Collette). Malcolm quickly becomes invested on Cole, seemingly trying to make up for the failures that got him shot. When Cole begins to open up, he reveals a terrifying secret: ‘I see dead people.’ Losing his confidence on his ability to help Cole and seeing his marriage crumble, due to his obsession to heal him, Malcolm tries to absolve himself from Cole’s case. He listens to a tape at home of the boy that grew up to be the man that shot him. The similarities between the man and Cole are starkly similar. But when Malcolm turns up the volume, he hears the voice of a dead man. Repurposed, Malcolm goes back to Cole and suggests he fight his fears, listen to ghosts, see what they want, and try and help them. Cole reluctantly tries and it leads to startling revelations about the afterlife, himself and Dr. Malcolm Crowe.

This is a beautiful and tragic tale of broken people helping each other. Its success lies in the amazing characters and the actors who brought them to life. You care about these people greatly by the time thing ratchet up. The mysteries so elegantly placed throughout whet the appetite for more at each turn, all the while standing the hairs up on your arms. The ending is a heart-wrenching turn, so jaw-droppingly amazing I don’t think it has been bested. You think the Statue of Liberty at the end of Planet of the Apes spun your head? Well, hold Shymalan’s beer because this one is the gut punch to end all gut punches. I had no idea, come the final scene, and when it happened, I sat in awe.

I think this is Bruce Willis’s greatest performance. Hayley Joel Osmand deserved the Oscar for best supporting actor he missed on, as did Toni Collette. The haunting, melancholic score by James Newton Howard is another masterwork and something I revisit often. Shyamalan’s direction is understated yet affecting. His staging, especially in selling the big twist, is exceptional. He was deserving of his academy award nomination. Equally so is his screenplay, which is now considered one of the 50 greatest screenplays ever written,

The Sixth Sense is worthy of the adjective classic. Not horror classic, or weepy classic, or whatever genre you wanna mention. It is one of the refined, surgical emotional masterpieces ever made. Its creator has gone on to a storied and parodied creatives in the business, but he made this work what it was: brilliant, engaging, affecting and terrifying all at once.

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

Home Video Distributor: Disney / Buena Vista
Available on Blu-ray - October 22, 2024
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English SDH; French; German; Italian; Spanish; Czech; Danish; Dutch; Finnish; Norwegian; Polish; Swedish
Video: Native 4K; HDR: HDR10
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; French: DTS-HD HR 5.1French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish: DTS 5.1; Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0; German: DTS-HD HR 5.1; Italian: DTS 5.1; Czech: Dolby Digital 2.0; Polish: Dolby Digital 5.1; Audio descriptive
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A

VIDEO

This is a fairly solid 2160p native scan of the original camera negatives. Fine detail obliterates former 1080p transfers. The colour pallet is relatively faithful to what’s been seen before, steering a tad warmer to my eyes. The HDR10+ makes is presence known in brighter shots and with the colour red, really popping those deliberately placed shades off your tv. It has subtle but noticed inconsistencies with grain and darks. Nothing awful but I noticed in a few moments, like the bathroom scene. Overall, this is a great job and a welcome addition to your 4K library.

AUDIO

A very effective DTS.HD 5.1 sound mix is provided. It’s an effective surround experience but not much different than what came before. This film is ripe for an ATMOS treatment, so I am bummed they didn’t go for it. Nevertheless, this subtle yet effective mix suitable lulls you then ramp your blood pressure effectively. Newton-Howard’s excellent score fills the surrounds, encapsulating you in this world. Dialogue is clear and centred. Sub channels work consistently well. What could have been though!

Supplements:

Commentary:

• None

Special Features:

Piss poor. 4K gets nada. Blu-ray gets pre-released stuff long out of date. New artwork for the cover. Usual broken record whine. They just don’t invest in this kind of thing anymore.

• Reflections from the Set
• Between Two Worlds
• Moving Pictures: The Storyboard Process
• Music and Sound Design
• Reaching the Audience
• Rules and Clues
• Deleted Scenes
• Publicity
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • TV Spot
  • TV Spot

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: PG-13.
Runtime: 107 mins
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Writer: M. Night Shyamalan
Cast: Bruce Willis; Haley Joel Osment; Toni Collette
Genre: Mystery | Thriller
Tagline: Not Every Gift is a Blessing.
Memorable Movie Quote: "I see dead people."
Theatrical Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Official Site:
Release Date: August 6, 1999
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: October 22, 2024.
Synopsis: A child psychologist starts treating a young boy with a disturbing secret.