M. Night Shyamalan Week: Day 1

There’s no doubt that our boy M. Night Shyamalan has a mixed bag of films.

When he sets out to make a film, one of two things happens:

He hits

or

strikes out at the plate. 

But when he hits it’s not just an RBI. It's an absolute dinger outside-the-park home run that your grandpa talks about for 50 years.

We want to talk about those. Because that’s way more fun.

And with the release of Knock at the Cabin Door it gives us the perfect opportunity to discuss the king of the twist. 

We are so excited to talk about Shyamalan this week!

He’s a real enigma, at least on a cultural level.

You can love him, hate him, hate that you love him, or love to hate him.

All are valid choices, but no matter where you stand, you have to acknowledge the sensation that is The Sixth Sense.

The film made almost $300 million in the US alone, introduced Haley Joel Osment to the world, and revitalized Bruce Willis’ career. But why did it connect with audiences as much as it did?

Well, simply because of character dynamics.

At the heart of every M. Night movie, there are grounded relationships.

No matter how fantastical the circumstance, he always puts relationships at the center of the story, whether it be friendship, filiation, or, in the case of today’s film clip, marriage. 

This scene depicts marital connection and its loss.

Malcolm Crowe, played by Bruce Willis, is fighting for that connection, and his wife, Anna, played by Olivia Williams, is mourning the loss of that connection.

It's a beautiful and heartbreaking scene that has the ability to change every time you watch it.