The Sixth Sense (1999)

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Screenplay Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Movie Time: 107 Minutes

1. INCITING INCIDENT

On the eve of receiving a commendation in the field of Child Psychiatry from the city of Philadelphia, Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) celebrates with his wife Anna (Olivia Williams). Dr. Malcolm’s former patient Vincent Grey (Donnie Wahlberg) breaks into the house and shoots Malcolm in the stomach, and then shoots himself. (00:10:30)

2. LOCK IN (End of Act One)

After approaching a new patient, Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), Malcolm and Cole’s mother, Lynn Sears (Toni Collette), are sitting across from each other in the Sear’s living room when Cole comes home. It appears they have been talking about Cole. Cole agrees to play a mind reading game with Malcolm. Through the game Malcolm is able to discover that Cole has a secret. (00:26:12)

3. FIRST CULMINATION (Midpoint)

After a run in with a school bully puts Cole in the hospital, Cole tells Malcolm a secret: He see’s dead people. Also he explains that the dead do not know they are dead. They can’t see other dead people; they only see what they want to see. (00:50:28)

4. MAIN CULMINATION (End of Act Two)

Following advice from Malcolm, Cole is able to face his fears and help a little girl ghost, Kyra. Cole and Malcolm go to Kyra’s house for her funeral. Kyra gives Cole a secret box with a tape inside to give to her father. Kyra’s dad watches the tape and finds out that Kyra’s mom was poisoning Kyra to keep her sick. Cole is now able to help the ghosts instead of being afraid of them. (1:27:04)

5. THIRD ACT TWIST

Malcolm takes Cole’s advice and talks to Anna while she’s asleep. Anna drops his wedding ring (the same ring that he thinks is on his hand) Anna talks about how Malcolm is gone. He understands that he has been “seeing what he wants to see.” The locked door, his wife doesn’t talk to him, etc. Malcolm has the realization that he’s actually dead. (01:40:00)

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