The Sixth Sense
photo taken from wikipedia.org
The Sixth Sense is now considered M. Night Shyamalan’s best film. The famous line “I see dead people” has become a pop culture phenomenon. This film had one of the most famous plot twists of the last decade. The film gained Shyamalan the recognition he had long deserved since NYU film school. Shyamalan had been experimenting with the horror-thriller genre for years. His earliest films showed his now famous use of not fully showing the villian/antagonist until the film is near it’s finale.
When I first saw this film, I was not expecting that ending at all. For those few of you have not seen the movie or heard of the ending, I will not spoil it for you. Let me just say you will be very surprised. Throughout the film, Shyamalan uses subliminal imagery to convey to the audience that there is a twist coming. This is most notable through his use of the color red. By using the color red, the director is referencing death and blood. This should give a few of you film buffs something to look for.
Ever since this film, Shyamalan has made a few good movies but they never seem to measure up to the power of this one. If it was not for his recent two films, Lady in the Water and The Happening, I would call him the “new Hitchcock.” Because, much like Hitchcock, his best movies will keep you intrigued for years to come.
