I've always thought the genius of this movie was that there were three moments of wrenching reveal: as you mention, when Malcolm realizes Cole is really seeing ghosts, when Malcolm realizes he is dead, but also when Cole's mother realizes what he has really been experiencing this whole time. That, to me, is the emotional core of the film, where the full impact of Cole's suffering hits home in the guilt-tinged emotional reaction of the great Toni Collette.
Yes, the scene you're describing is easily the most emotionally powerful in the entire film. It's so delicately crafted, too, relying almost entirely on performances.
The most important line in that scene is when Cole explains not just that the ghosts don't know that they're dead, but that they can't SEE EACH OTHER — without this line, there's no movie.
It's there solely to explain why (in the fridge logic conversation after the movie) deceased Dr. Crowe doesn't see the ghosts that Cole sees (like in the school).
(This is my version of "the thing about The Sixth Sense that, so far as I know, nobody else has pointed out.)
Just watched this film a couple of weeks ago with my son (13) when I realized he hadn’t yet seen it. It’s hard to believe it has already been twenty-five years since I saw it for the first time. I loved it so much more the second time…finding so many more relevant-to-my-life themes in it these twenty-five years later than I did as my younger self. Brilliant all the way around. I could probably ramble in about it for a while, but I will leave it at that.
The part about your name losing its uniqueness after this film came out gave me a good chuckle. 🙂 Great post.
I loved that film. And, as someone who can reliably spot a plot twist a mile away, I was the only one in my peer group who DID NOT see the reveal coming - that Dr Crowe, too, was one of the dead people.
I've always thought the genius of this movie was that there were three moments of wrenching reveal: as you mention, when Malcolm realizes Cole is really seeing ghosts, when Malcolm realizes he is dead, but also when Cole's mother realizes what he has really been experiencing this whole time. That, to me, is the emotional core of the film, where the full impact of Cole's suffering hits home in the guilt-tinged emotional reaction of the great Toni Collette.
Yes, the scene you're describing is easily the most emotionally powerful in the entire film. It's so delicately crafted, too, relying almost entirely on performances.
The most important line in that scene is when Cole explains not just that the ghosts don't know that they're dead, but that they can't SEE EACH OTHER — without this line, there's no movie.
It's there solely to explain why (in the fridge logic conversation after the movie) deceased Dr. Crowe doesn't see the ghosts that Cole sees (like in the school).
(This is my version of "the thing about The Sixth Sense that, so far as I know, nobody else has pointed out.)
It's a crucial detail that the whole final twist -- and the emotional metaphor of the film -- hinges on, YES!
Just watched this film a couple of weeks ago with my son (13) when I realized he hadn’t yet seen it. It’s hard to believe it has already been twenty-five years since I saw it for the first time. I loved it so much more the second time…finding so many more relevant-to-my-life themes in it these twenty-five years later than I did as my younger self. Brilliant all the way around. I could probably ramble in about it for a while, but I will leave it at that.
The part about your name losing its uniqueness after this film came out gave me a good chuckle. 🙂 Great post.
I'm glad to hear the piece resonated so much with you, Georgia. And thank you for the coffee!
I loved that film. And, as someone who can reliably spot a plot twist a mile away, I was the only one in my peer group who DID NOT see the reveal coming - that Dr Crowe, too, was one of the dead people.
Great and extremely useful analysis!
Thanks, Leonardo!