As a cinephile who has watched countless films and documentaries, I must say that M. Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense is undeniably one of the most intriguing and impactful movies of our time. It’s fascinating to delve into the behind-the-scenes stories that brought this masterpiece to life.
Well, here’s a twist: The Sixth Sense came out 25 years ago.
Despite numerous attempts to replicate it, the chilling thriller directed by M. Night Shyamalan featuring Haley Joel Osment and Bruce Willis continues to set the bar high for shocking conclusions (note: spoilers follow, but if you haven’t watched it yet, you’ve had more than two decades to do so). Regardless of whether or not you already know the twist, the exceptional acting performances and the eerie atmosphere that envelops the entire film make the 1999 box-office hit a classic worth revisiting time and again.
In 2019, Shyamalan expressed a sense of enchantment regarding Osment’s audition. Not being a novice, Osment delivered an extraordinary performance as Cole Sears, a character who could see dead people. According to his recollection in The Hollywood Reporter, “Upon leaving the room, I told the casting director, ‘I’m not sure if I want to make this film unless it’s with that child.'”
10-year-old Osment achieved stardom with the release of “The Sixth Sense,” which, interestingly enough, set a new peak in Willis’ illustrious career by earning $294 million at the domestic box office and an impressive $673 million worldwide. Notably, these figures were surpassed only by the global earnings of “Star Wars: Episode 1—The Phantom Menace” that same year.
As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but acknowledge the extraordinary film I recently encountered, which garnered widespread acclaim and was even nominated for six prestigious Oscars. Among these nominations were recognitions in notable categories such as Best Picture, Best Actor (for Osment), Best Supporting Actress (Toni Collette, who delivered a captivating portrayal of the anxious mother character Lynn), Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay (by M. Night Shyamalan).
In an explanation to THR, Osment shared that when one can recall personal experiences from earlier parts of the narrative, it significantly contributes to making the story’s world feel more authentic throughout the movie.
During filming, his now famous quote about seeing the deceased was simply another scripted line for him.
The actor, who is now 36 years old, mentioned that during our filming of that particular scene, no one was highlighting or focusing on that specific line. In fact, he noted that it didn’t seem to gain much traction until after the movie was released, when marketing strategies began to feature it prominently on posters, commercials, and other promotional materials.
As a lifestyle expert delving into the realm of cinema, let me share an intriguing tidbit with you. I had the pleasure of witnessing a quote from one movie ascend to legendary status, and it was none other than “I see dead people” from The Sixth Sense. And if you’re ready for more captivating insights about this film, get prepared to have your mind blown – much like the twist in the story, these revelations are ones you won’t be able to forget!
As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it like this: When I, as a director, presented my script for consideration, I made it clear that there were a few non-negotiables. First and foremost, I had to be the one helming the project. Secondly, the budget needed to start at a minimum of $1 million. That’s not negotiable, I told The Hollywood Reporter. If you’re interested in reading my script, be aware that this is where we’ll begin discussions.
As a devoted follower of The Walt Disney Studios, I recall the thrilling moment when David Vogel, then our studio president, laid eyes on the captivating script. Seizing an opportunity to bring it to life, he boldly acquired the rights for $2.25 million, bypassing corporate approval to dodge a potential bidding war. Alas, Disney’s response was not quite as enthusiastic as Vogel had hoped. They requested modifications to his contract and a relinquishment of some presidential authority. However, our fearless leader stood firm, refusing to comply. Consequently, he found himself let go in July of 1999.
Disney showed a lack of confidence in the movie, choosing instead to pass on the production responsibilities to Spyglass Entertainment. However, they still maintained control over its distribution and kept 12.5% of the film’s earnings from the box office.
Prior to taking on the role of Malcolm Crowe, Bruce Willis was set to star in and produce another Disney film titled “Broadway Baller.” However, just 20 days into the project, he dismissed the director and a large portion of the crew, effectively halting the production for an undetermined period.
In an effort to settle a lawsuit and recoup the $17.5 million spent on a canceled film, Bruce Willis agreed to a three-film deal with the studio. A part of his earnings from these movies would be used to offset the losses. The movies were “Armageddon”, then “The Sixth Sense”, and finally “The Kid”.
3. Michael Cera openly shared that he had tried out for the part of Cole, confessing in 2009 to Esquire that he wasn’t aware the film was about communicating with the deceased; they hadn’t disclosed that detail in the casting description.
Following the movie, he reminisced about the part of the film he had performed during his audition. In the scene, Bruce Willis says, “I can’t be your doctor anymore,” and then Haley Joel Osment sheds tears and moves a penny towards him. It’s a deeply emotional moment. However, as the star of Arrested Development recounted, he portrayed it differently. Instead of conveying the sadness, he delivered the line “Some magic’s real” in an optimistic tone.
As a devoted follower, I must express my admiration for Donnie Wahlberg’s incredible dedication. Despite having a mere 10 minutes on screen, he underwent an astounding transformation to embody Malcolm’s tormented ex-patient Vincent. Remarkably, he shed an impressive 43 pounds in a breathtakingly short span of five weeks.
As a lifestyle expert, I can share that during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the New Kids on the Block singer recalled Olan Rogers, also known as Night, expressing his belief that this particular scene was crucial for setting the tone of the movie. When it came to my role in the film, I made a conscious effort to avoid dwelling on the weight of such a pivotal moment and instead focused on staying true to the script and aligning myself with the feelings needed to portray this part effectively. If I hadn’t experienced the hardships and intense emotional challenges that my character underwent prior to performing this scene, I wondered how I could possibly strip down, let alone bare my soul. That mindset helped guide me through the process.
In his account, he chose an unconventional approach to ready himself for the production. He relocated to New York and resided at a friend’s place, “yet without any money or credit cards. I would occasionally fast for several days, subsisting on vegetables alone, chewing gum throughout the day, strolling the city streets, and then enduring this extreme process when I reached Philadelphia. One night, I even slept in the park.”
Despite his aspirations, he wasn’t able to fully expose himself during his crucial scene, as planned, instead opting to wear modest underwear to maintain a PG-13 rating for the movie.
5. In a seemingly affectionate gesture towards his parent’s professions by playing Dr. Hill, M. Night Shyamalan found himself severely criticizing his own acting and having most of it removed in post-production, expressing dissatisfaction with his performance in his own movie.
Yet, after another opportunity arose, he has resurfaced, much like Hitchcock’s signature cameos, appearing in each of his own productions.
7. In order to maintain the mystery surrounding Malcolm’s survival, dexterous Willis mastered writing and sketching with his dominant right hand, ensuring that the absence of his wedding ring on his left hand remained unnoticed by viewers.
7. Throughout the movie, Willis carefully crafted his handwriting to keep viewers guessing, but his wardrobe provided one of the few clear hints that Malcolm wasn’t as he seemed. If you watch closely, you’ll notice that he consistently wears a slightly altered version of the same outfit he wore on the night Vincent ended his life.
8. Another clue that Malcolm is dead?
After Cole iconically says, “I see dead people,” the camera slowly zoomed in on his face.
Frank Marshall, the producer, revealed in an exclusive segment that he felt compelled to modify a particular scene, as he thought it might be too obvious. However, during test screenings, viewers failed to grasp the underlying implication, thus the scene remained unchanged.
In many scenes of the movie, the color red is deliberately omitted. However, it makes a significant appearance in certain distinct frames, as director M. Night Shyamalan explained, to represent elements contaminated by another realm, and to symbolize intensely emotional instances in the story.
The significant effort put into preserving the surprising climax was notable, but the organization of the soundtrack’s song list received less attention.
The final track of the James Newton Howard score was originally called “Malcolm is Dead.”
If someone had browsed the CD of the movie soundtrack in a record store prior to watching the film, it would have potentially ruined the movie experience for them as they might have learned about key plot points or surprises that were only revealed in the movie.
11. Although it was presumably mandatory for Willis to work on “The Sixth Sense“, he seemed intent on ensuring that the production process was enjoyable for everyone, even hosting nightly parties with his DJ skills for the adult team members.
M. Night Shyamalan shared with Variety that Bruce, known for being a popular DJ back then, was the one who initiated me into the world of partying and carefree living. The parties were exciting, to say the least. Not only did he introduce me to my first hangover, but he also affectionately referred to each shot as “candy”. I would ask for “candy”, not realizing that it would leave me feeling terrible the next morning, unable to move from the couch. Bruce found this amusing.
The movie’s frightening aspect often comes from what isn’t shown, but Haley Joel Osment admitted during a Reddit Q&A session many years later that one deleted scene could have made it even more intense.
“There is a deleted scene from The Sixth Sense where I look out the window of the hospital and see an entire wing with horribly disfigured and mutilated people standing in each of the dozens of windows,” he wrote. “I think Night wisely cut that out because we end up having a movie that isn’t too gory and your imagination (the most terrifying force at work) takes over.”
Over the past twenty years, I’ve come to understand that many members of the cast only grasped the true terror portrayed in the movie once they had a chance to view it themselves.
Mischa Barton, famously portraying a young woman poisoned by her mother, reached a crucial point during post-production as she entered the Automated Dialogue Replacement (ADR) booth.
Originally, I had my younger sibling with me since we were both in a studio in New York for ADR work. Suddenly, she became quite excited, as if she had just witnessed something truly shocking. As reported by Variety, this future star of “The O.C.” said, “She made a scene, the loudest I’ve ever heard from her!” You know how you’re supposed to be quiet during ADR sessions? Well, she let out a blood-curdling scream! My mom gasped in shock and had to quickly take her outside. My sister exclaimed, “That was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever experienced!”
14. The noticeable fog coming from Cole whenever a ghost was around? That was accomplished traditionally: By making the actor extremely chilly.
In my experience, during filming, they would encase the sets with massive plastic sheets and fill the area with intensely chilly air, making it colder than freezing. This way, we could see our breath. However, due to the extreme cold, our time inside was restricted, and for many scenes, I was only dressed in my undergarments or similar.
Shyamalan stated, “At that time, CGI wasn’t polished enough to make me feel assured it could convincingly portray breaths. [Osment] wasn’t emoting; his performance was stiff, and you could observe the chilliness on his skin and how he was trembling. Even with today’s advanced CGI, I might still approach it in a similar manner because of what it encourages actors to do.”
15. For numerous indoor scenes, the movie’s production utilized the vintage convention center located in M. Night Shyamalan’s childhood town, Philadelphia.
The grand, vacant corridors echoed a sense of being on the set of “[The Shining]”. According to Osment, it is said that JFK delivered a speech in this location during his campaign in 1960. He described it as incredibly old and lavish with massive, marble staircases leading into profound depths.
It wasn’t clear to everyone that they were the only ones there, as some thought the location might have been genuinely haunted. Barton recalls his feelings, “I’m not sure if it was just youngsters exaggerating, but I believe that place was indeed haunted. To be honest, it felt haunted.” Regarding Night, Barton adds, “I can’t speak for him, but I have a feeling he found the eerie atmosphere quite appealing, making the experience even more thrilling.”
When Toni Collette walked in to audition for the part of Cole’s mother Lynn, she had changed her look so much that Shyamalan was concerned he might not be able to persuade Disney to hire her.
The director reminisced to Variety about a time when they had watched “Muriel’s Wedding,” and Toni walked in with her head shaved. He couldn’t remember if she did it for fun or for a film role. However, he thought she looked stunning. He hesitated to share the audition video with the studio because of Toni’s unconventional appearance, but he confidently declared that he wanted to cast the actress from “Muriel’s Wedding.” Luckily, Bruce agreed and expressed his appreciation for the movie, so they managed to secure Toni’s casting without showing the audition tape to the studio.
As for the hairdo she has in the film?
In M. Night Shyamalan’s film, The Sixth Sense, Toni is consistently sporting what appears to be a wig, and it seems strikingly similar to the one from Velvet Goldmine. However, during production, we didn’t have access to that specific wig.
17. During filming, Collette felt some spooky occurrences of her own.
During our work on “The Sixth Sense,” she shared with Slant Magazine in 2012, I experienced some peculiar occurrences. Specifically, while lodging in Philadelphia’s hotel room, I found myself meditating frequently, and then waking up at night to find the clock displaying repeated numbers – such as 1:11, 3:33, or 4:44. This pattern began to unsettle me greatly.
To create a distressing scene where Barton’s character Kyra is vomiting in front of an unfortunate Cole, she was not only subjected to the bitter cold (to make everyone’s breath visible), but also made to hold a particular concoction in her mouth until the perfect moment arrived.
Barton shared with Variety, “We concocted a blend for me to consume. They offered me choices between cereals and bananas,” she explained, adding that the incident didn’t particularly bother her. “People are always curious about whether it was distressing. Not really. I was 13 and quite capable of dealing with it.”
At the 72nd Academy Awards, Collette received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her portrayal of Collette, but it was Angelina Jolie who won for her performance in “Girl, Interrupted”. Interestingly, the role initially belonged to another actor or actress.
As a die-hard admirer, let me share that I was thrilled to learn from an Urban Cinefile interview with Collette, that the remarkable Marisa Tomei was among the other exceptional actresses vying for the role. There were also some well-known actresses in the mix, but nothing could eclipse my excitement when I heard her name!
20. The movie was such a hit that it turned out to be the best-selling DVD of the year 2000. In addition, its global earnings of $672.8 million placed it as the highest-grossing horror film (in unadjusted dollars) until 2017’s It.
Not bad for a film Disney had no faith in whatsoever.
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2024-08-06 10:20