Hollywood superstar Bruce Willis brings a powerful presence to an edge-of-your-seat thriller from writer-director M. Night Shyamalan (Oscar®-nominee for Best Original Screenplay and Best Director) that critics are calling one of the greatest ghost stories ever filmed. When Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Willis), a distinguished child psychologist, meets Cole Sear (Oscar® -nominee Haley Joel Osment, Best Supporting Actor), a frightened, confused, eight-year-old, Dr. Crowe is completely unprepared to face the truth of what haunts Cole. With a riveting intensity you’ll find thoroughly chilling, the discovery of Cole’s incredible sixth sense leads them to mysterious places with unforgettable consequences!
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Video Quality
The Sixth Sense makes its long-awaited 4K UHD Blu-Ray debut with a wonderful 2160p HDR10 transfer that will make fans very happy. When compared to the old Blu-Ray released in 2008 with an ancient scan, this disc offers unbelievable improvements on all fronts. That release was plagued with noise, waxy texture, and unacceptable black levels, among other issues. This new 4K scan has a favorable amount of natural film grain that brings forth so much texture and detail to the transfer. For the first time on home entertainment, you can clearly see specific text such as the patient notes taken by Crowe. The image presents an exceptional amount of depth that makes the city and the various interiors such as the church feel more three-dimensional than ever. The upgrade in contrast and overall clarity are a sight to see, especially when observing the production design and the costumes.
The UHD disc contains nuanced colors throughout even with the prevalence of cooler tones due to the overcast fall aesthetic. The most significant moments of HDR implementation are in pivotal moments of contrast between the pitch-black darkness of a nighttime hallway and a strong light source. These provide a nice burst of luminance that is impressive. Highlights are brighter and offer greater stability without veering into blooming. Black levels are deep and allow the picture to maintain a formidable amount of depth and detail in darker environments. Skin tones appear more natural and the clarity of the transfer gives you a distinct amount of facial detail including horrifying makeup effects. This transfer is a gift for fans who have been struggling with the old release for years.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray comes with a robust DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio lossless audio track that packs a punch despite the lack of a new Dolby Atmos presentation. When you have something that sounds this good, you cannot be too mad at it. The sound design conjures up an unnerving soundscape that complements the narrative well. The movie provides plenty of chances for the track to show off the nimble sound design that gives the speakers a workout.
The James Newton Howard score is presented with a discerning amount of clarity and fidelity. Music is used purposefully throughout the presentation, but it never overshadows the dialogue or other important information. Exchanges come through clearly and never stumble with any digital anomalies. Rear speakers get a pleasing amount of activity throughout, especially when it comes to some of the more terrifying scenes. The low-end support is a force when the moment calls for it. The film accomplishes everything it needs to with this track.
Special Features
- Reflections From The Set: A great 40-minute archival featurette in which the key creative figures discuss the development of the film, the characters and themes of the film, the preparation that went into the filming process, and more.
- Between Two Worlds: A 38-minute examination of the supernatural with various acclaimed figures including the creatives behind The Exorcist, Ghost, and more. There are discussions of ghost stories, researching the paranormal, and more.
- Moving Pictures – The Storyboard Process: A 15-minute look at the storyboard process with artist Brick Mason and M. Night Shyamalan.
- Music and Sound Design: A seven-minute featurette on the importance of sound in this feature.
- Reaching The Audience: A nearly four-minute examination of the unexpected success of the film.
- Rules and Clues: A six-minute look at the effort put into preserving the integrity of the film and its twists.
- Deleted Scenes: Four scenes totaling nearly 15 minutes are included here which Shyamalan guides you through to give some context where these moments would have been and why they were omitted.
- Publicity: This disc provides the Theatrical Trailer (2:18), a TV Spot (30 Seconds), and a TV Spot (15 Seconds).
Final Thoughts
The Sixth Sense is the film that put M. Night Shyamalan on the map, and it is one that has not lost an ounce of its potency. Even after you know all of its secrets, you can appreciate the journey for how skillfully constructed it is and the incredible performances from the ensemble. The movie is supremely creepy and emotionally resonant. It has all of the elements that solidify it as a classic. Disney Home Entertainment has released a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a stellar A/V presentation and a fine array of legacy special features. With this release, the film has finally been treated with the respect it deserves on home entertainment. Recommended
The Sixth Sense is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Disney Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
