Throughout the film we see that with enough emotional effort a ghost can impact and effect the physical world. We see this through the scars on Cole and the movements of certain things in his house i.e. his grandmother’s ‘bumblebee’ pendant.
The symbolic clues in the film help us understand some of the situations in the film. It also helps Cole realise that it is he, who has to finally help the ‘souls’ move on. An example of this is in the chapter entitled ‘Kyra.’ Kyra comes to request Cole to help her prove that she didn’t die naturally but was being poisoned by her step mother.
Examples of symbolic clues are placed all through the film. Sometimes the clues alert us to the presence of supernatural behavior.
In the scene ‘locked in the dungeon,’ M .Night Shyamalan uses a variety of film techniques to create suspense, tension and interest in the audience.
One of the most interesting clues is when we see Cole following a ‘red’ balloon up the stairs. We obviously know that red is used to signify any scene tainted by the supernatural world. Similarly, it connotes an explosive emotional scene. This contrasts with the more muted colours in the film.
In addition to that, we see the outline of Cole’s shadow in dimmed light. Shadows institute that the characters maybe in jeopardy from the supernatural world.
This director shows the shot where two boys at the party force Cole to go in to that very cupboard in which he hears voices from. This builds suspense as we know that Cole is already in danger from the supernatural world.
Cole is unfortunately forced to go in the cupboard unwillingly, when the ‘red’ balloon pops. We know that red connotes the presence of a ghost; therefore from the voices we know that a ghost is present in the same cupboard as Cole.
A very important clue is given at the end of the scene. The door of the cupboard unlocks itself; we know that it can’t be Cole as he is unconscious. We immediately know that, it is something to do with the interference of the paranormal being that is presented in there.
Some important stages are shown that give us clues to what we think might happen.
The balloon is going up the stairs; in this scene we see various types of clues. We see a red balloon, a source of light at the top of the stairs and we notice that the staircase is shaped like a 6 or a 9 (the devils number). A direct reference to the title of the film, The Sixth Sense. As the camera tracks Cole’s movements, the audience feels tension because there is a red balloon which is seen as danger and there is also paranormal activities going on. The view that the stairs is shot in, shows that we are following it up. This particular shot is a shot using the worms – eye view, this means that we are looking up from below.
Another stage in this scene is when Cole is following the ‘red’ balloon up the stairs; he is also wearing a ‘red’ jumper. In this stage of the scene, the camera makes it so that we are looking in a diagonal axis from above. The mise-en-scene is dark and we see a dim-light being shown on Cole’s shadow. This scene is shot using a high angle shot, which makes us feel that we are following Cole up.
We continue tracking Cole up the stairs, in a dark setting. It gives us the impressions that Cole is being attracted to something, we already know that he is wearing ‘red’ which is significant as it is represents danger. This stage is shot using a medium/low angle shot, as we can see from his knee and above, we also see parts of the stairs.
We see the people from directly overhead – (2 boys at the party). The objects (people) in the film are made to feel smaller and less significant and scary. This scene is shot using a, birds – eye view, so that we feel like we are observing them from above.
Nearing the end of the scene, it comes to our attention that the red balloon suddenly ‘pops.’ This means that we are in a moment of tension and immediately after that, Cole’s mother knows that something is wrong. This shot is taken using a close up as we are in full view of the balloon, which makes it more important.
The directors’ clever cinematography dupes the audience until the final scenes, by directing the characters in a specific way. It manipulates the audience in to thinking that Dr Crowe is alive, but infact he is dead and is present as a ghost. Who has to redeem himself by helping Cole who has similar conditions to Vincent. Dr Crowe does not realise that he is dead until it is given away at the end, when there is a flashback.
The chapter entitled ‘communications’ drops the bombshell that he was killed in the opening scene. The character appears to be as shocked as the audience when hearing the news.
This is because in the scene entitled ‘bedtime stories’ – Cole reveals to us that he can see ghosts and that ghosts don’t know that they are dead. They wonder around as restless spirits thinking that they are still alive. That is why Dr Crowe is shocked when he finds out that he is dead.
We are shown a series of flashbacks of key moments in the film. These flashbacks directly show the audience what they have missed and how the clues were there.
The clues that show that Dr Crowe was dead were placed cleverly throughout the film ‘disguised.’ One of such clues is we see Dr Crowe’s clothing. Even though he changes outfits during the film, he wears the same clothes on the day he died. Also shadows institute that the characters maybe in jeopardy from the supernatural world. In fact in the chapter entitled ‘Kyra,’ Dr Crowe has no shadow; a direct reference to the fact that he does not exist.
Another clue is that with enough emotional effort, a ghost can impact on the physical world. When Dr. Crowe see’s his wife in another man’s arms, he smashes the window. His wife comes out but she see’s nothing, whereas the audience see’s Dr. Crowe walking away.
These clues all link together to state that Dr. Crowe is a supernatural being and that the audience were manipulated in to believing that he is alive until the end.
How does of the film ‘the sixth sense’ manipulate the audience to such an extent that the ending is totally unexpected?
In my opinion, I think the director was very successful in achieving to manipulate the audience. I was fooled by film, because I was made to think that Dr Crowe was alive.
The director exploited our expectations of normality and although the information is there throughout the film, it is presented in such a manner so that the ending comes as a huge shock. However the fact that the information was there makes the film rewarding to watch numerous times. Indeed it is a complex and fascinating film.
The manipulation is created in order to present Dr Crowe in such a manner, that we think that he is doing his best to redeem himself from the pains of his past – Vincent Gray. We also find out that it was infact Cole who was helping Dr Crowe to move on.
This film is brilliantly fascinating and an exciting film that is brought in to the realm of the supernatural.
This course work is by Aliyah Shaikh
Hampstead School
Yr. 10
Sandra Crawford