Week 1 - Post Moovie Night Breakdown

Dearly Beloved,

For those of you who chickened out of watching The Sixth Sense, have a sleep association with watching movies, or want the inside scoop on the movie’s secret messages, we give you our post-movie night breakdown. Be aware that this email has SPOILERS.

The Sixth Sense is a psychological thriller that tells the story of Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist who tries to help a young boy named Cole Sear. Cole’s problem is similar to that of the Titanic, icy dead people.

Ultimately Malcolm learns that he is actually one of the dead people that Cole sees. That’s right, Malcolm was shot by a former patient in the beginning of the movie and he didn’t realize he was a ghost until the end. Talk about a mind-blowing twist!

But why didn’t Malcolm notice he was dead? How could he be so oblivious to the obvious signs? Well, that’s where the message of the movie comes in. The Sixth Sense is not just a ghost story, but also a story about fear and how it can blind us to the truth. Malcolm was afraid of failing as a therapist, as a husband, and as a person. He was so consumed by his fear that he couldn’t see what was right in front of him: his wife was ignoring him, his patients were avoiding him, and his blood was staining his shirt. He was living in denial, clinging to his past, and refusing to move on.

Cole, on the other hand, was also afraid of seeing dead people, but he learned to overcome his fear with Malcolm’s help. He realized that the ghosts were not there to harm him, but to ask for his help. He used his gift to help them find peace and closure, and in doing so, he also helped himself and Malcolm. He was able to face his fear and accept his reality, unlike Malcolm who hid from his fear and rejected his reality.

The movie also uses symbols and tropes to reinforce its themes and plot twists. For example, the color red is used to indicate the presence of the supernatural or the dead. Just think “red is dead”, whenever we see something red in the movie, such as a doorknob, a balloon, or a tent. Red clues us in that something spooky is about to happen or that someone is dead or dying.

Another example is the use of light and darkness to contrast life and death. The movie begins with a light bulb turning on, symbolizing Malcolm’s life and recognition. The movie ends with Malcolm walking into the light, symbolizing his death and realization. In between, we see many scenes where Malcolm is in the shadows or in dimly lit places, suggesting his limbo state between life and death.

Much like my family’s Thanksgiving dinner, The Sixth Sense is a masterpiece of storytelling that combines suspense, horror, drama, and emotion. It explores the themes of fear, denial, acceptance, and redemption through the perspectives of two characters who have a special connection: one who sees dead people and one who is a dead person. It also uses clever techniques and symbols to foreshadow and reveal its shocking twist ending that makes us question everything we saw before. It’s a movie that deserves to be watched more than once, because every time you watch it, you’ll notice something new.

That concludes our weekly movie breakdown. If you have any comments or suggestions for future newsletters, we’ll give you 25 Stanley Nickels if reply with your ideas. And remember: don’t be afraid of seeing dead people, they might just need your help.

Signed,

Sue Donim