The Sixth Sense ( Shyamalan , 1999 , US )

The Sixth Sense ( Shyamalan , 1999 , US )

The opening of The Sixth Sense begins with a black background and blue text that fades in and out , each time giving us a new peace of information regarding the cast and crew behind the film. The score that accompanies this part of the opening is an dark, intimidating ,eery and mellow piece that sets the mood for the film. At one point the title of the film fades on to the screen , a sharp , shrill sound is heard as the name of the film is shown, this connotes that the film will be full of suspense and thrilling moments.

The dark black background used in the first part of the film could be a metaphor for the dark tone of the film and the utter blackness of death and the after life. There is a sarri

f blue font used, that fades with each shot.The blue colour used for the font is usually associated with the paranormal and this links with the film and its meaning. The sarrif font is serious , strict and formal looking.

After the dark background sequence , we are shown an extreme close up.The shot starts with a barely visible light growing brighter and brighter, this light is revealed to be a lightbulb , the audience does not know this at first and this has the audience guessing and asking questions from the very beginning of the film. When the lightbulb is dim , the light is barely visible and therefore looks like tiny light orbs, light orbs are associated with the paranormal and ghosts which ties up with the films meaning. Also The lightbulb slowly turning on could represent the beginning of the film or the beginning of something bad.

The next shot is of a dark room  , low key lighting is used, this makes the location seem dangerous and unsafe.The dark room also immediately tells the audience what to expect, it manipulates the audience by building their expectations, they are led to believe that the dark room is not safe.Hyperbolic sound is used as foot steps are heard coming down a set of stairs. The exaggerated sound of the steps helps heighten the sense of loneliness and the eeriness of the scene. We are shown a woman wearing a revealing purple dress , her revealing attire and done up appearance connotes her vulnerability as a character.

We are then introduced to a woman wearing a purple dress has her hair done up and is wearing very little makeup, because she isn’t wearing much makeup this connotes that she  is a character that is naive and vulnerable.

The woman wearing a purple dress carefully walks towards a wine rack . The woman's arms are close to her body as if she is trying to close up, this further suggests that this is a character that keeps to herself and is vulnerable. When the woman picks up a wine bottle she smiles for moment , however upon hearing a strange sound , she stops , turns around and stands for a while with her arms crossed and close to her body, her body language tells us , the audience she is scared as well as that she does not feel safe. We are then shown a shot of the woman , with her shadow in front of her and a dark space beyond her shadow. It is suggested that whatever made the sound is standing in the dark space beyond her shadow, this leaves the audience asking questions. She then starts shivering and can be heard shivering also, this suggests that she feels a presence in the room and again leaves the audience asking questions. The woman then proceeds to quickly run up the stairs, this tells us she did not feel safe in location she was in.