10 Seemingly Great Films That Unravelled On A Second Viewing

8. The Sixth Sense

"I see dead people" - once a funny line you could say to people to get a cheap laugh up until about 2003 - has now joined the ranks of "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse" and "Run, Forrest, run" as one of those immortal movie quotes you never, ever want to hear again, because why, Dad? The Sixth Sense was the movie that made M. Night Shyamlan's career, and also the movie that has forced him to try and repeat his twisty tricks for the past 15 years. First time around, Sixth Sense was blowing minds left, right, and centre. HE WAS DEAD ALL ALONG?! So here's a movie that justifies Pauline Kael's rule that you should watch a movie once - simply put, The Sixth Sense is nowhere near as interesting once you know that Bruce Willis is a ghost. All the suspense and mystery of the situation has evaporated; it's vanished. There are many who like to claim that the movie still holds up, of course - that it's a great picture whether you know the twist or not. If that's to imply that it's beautifully-directed and well-acted, sure: but unlike, say, Se7en, there's not "enough" going on in the movie to reward viewers for coming back again.