No. 47 The Sixth Sense (1999)
Points: 66 | Lists: Sabrecat (#14); Issun (#23); Jbear (#8)
“I see dead people…”
The Sixth Sense is a 1999 American supernatural psychological thriller film[2] written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The film tells the story of Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), a boy who is able to see and talk to the dead, and Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis), a child psychologist who tries to help him. The film established Shyamalan as a writer and director, and introduced the cinema public to his traits, most notably his affinity for surprise endings.
Released by Hollywood Pictures on August 6, 1999, the film was well-received by critics; praise was given to its acting performances (particularly Willis, Osment, and Toni Collette), atmosphere, and twist conclusion. The Sixth Sense was the second-highest-grossing film of 1999 (behind Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace), taking about $293 million in the US and $379 million in other markets.
The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Shyamalan, Best Supporting Actor for Osment, and Best Supporting Actress for Collette.
Drac’s Notes: Everyone was talking about this movie in 1999, but I was too much of a scaredy cat at the time, so I didn’t see it until much later. As far as Shymalan movies go, it’s probably one of his that stands up the best, but of course it works best if you don’t know much about it going in. If you’re somehow still unaware of how this film plays out, give it a watch!
Look, if I found out that everyone I knew was a ghost, I'd be happy, not scared!
Blast. The movies are having the opposite effect on the skeleton! Perhaps we can crank up the intensity. Video Knight, do we have another film slated for today?
No sir.
Dash the rules! Summon another!
Very well!
No. 46. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Points: 67 | Lists: Torzelbaum (#1); Johnny Unusual (#21); Shakewell (#22)
“Yeah, be rational, for sure. I'm a fucking werewolf, for Christ's sake!"
An American Werewolf in London is a 1981 horror comedy film written and directed by John Landis. An international co-production of the United Kingdom and the United States, the film stars David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, and Griffin Dunne. The film's plot follows two American backpackers, David and Jack, who are attacked by a creature while traveling in England, causing David to question whether he will become a werewolf under the next full moon.
Drac’s Notes: I first saw this film in high school when I was generally still too terrified of horror films to give them a chance. I’m glad I did with this one. The 80s was lousy with great werewolf movies, for some reason, and this is probably the best one ever. It’s another top-notch horror comedy which humanizes the concept of what it might be like to be infected with lycanthropy. It's a punchy horror-comedy that expertly balances the laughs and the scares, but the film is ultimately characterized by the sadness and the mounting realization that the characters you've grown to like are all doomed. Also I still kinda have a huge crush on Jenny Agutter for this movie and her other genre pic masterpiece, Logan’s Run. Anyway I don’t really like John Landis, but I can’t deny that he’s absolutely essential in the pantheon of great 1980s horror directors.
Skeletons can’t become werewolves, right guys? ...guys??
Oh hey, by the way, if you're in America, happy Thanksgiving!