This mystery features three truly remarkable performances, but the standout is undoubtedly Haley Joel Osment’s impressive first role as the disturbed young Cole. He possesses the ability to perceive deceased individuals, communicate with them, and gain knowledge from them. His difficulty—understandably so—stems from the fact that no one takes him seriously; his mother, Lynn (Toni Collette), is completely at her limit. Then comes child psychologist Crowe (Bruce Willis), who has prior experience in this area since another patient, Vincent (Donnie Wahlberg), experienced a similar issue with devastating results. Naturally, doubt exists everywhere, but as the story unfolds, we start to question whether what the boy experiences is purely from his imagination or something real. M. Night Shyamalan allows the actors to carry most of the weight here, supported by close-up camerawork and an effective score composed by James Newton Howard. Collette delivers a very believable portrayal of a distressed mother, and Osment exudes a maturity beyond his years as his character confronts a trauma that would challenge even the strongest personalities. Willis also serves as a reminder of why he was once considered a major star—his performance is subtle and controlled. The writing is strong, avoiding unnecessary words to distract from what is a genuinely captivating exploration of a frightening yet fascinating realm that I found very enjoyable to watch. It’s an even better experience if you can see it in a theater.

Source on TMDB