It’s hard to ignore that Philadelphia-born directorM. Night Shyamalanhas crafted one of the most indelible brands in filmmaking over the past 25 years. Ask the average movie fan to explain Shyamalan’s impact, and the answer is fairly simple: he consistently showcases a potent mix of skillful storytelling and unexpected plot twists that leave audiences reeling.
AmongShyamalan’s extensive filmography,two movies stand out for their particularly mind-blowing twists:The Sixth Sense(1999) andSplit(2016). These two films, separated by nearly two decades, share a compelling, hard-to-ignore connection.
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InThe Sixth Sense, Willis stars as child psychologist Dr. Malcolm Crowe, who is tasked with helping young Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), a boy who claims to see dead people.The narrative builds with a haunting, ever-escalating sense of mystery and tension, culminating in the shocking ending that Dr. Crowe himself had been dead all along, unseen by anyone in the film but Cole. This revelation not only shocked moviegoers but instantly cementedShyamalan as a master of the unexpected twist.
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Fast-forward to 2016, when after disappointing reviews and box office receipts for recent films likeThe Last Airbender, After Earth, andThe Visit, Shyamalan made a triumphant return withSplit.Splitfollows Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), a man with dissociative identity disorder who kidnaps three teenage girls. However, the real shock comes in the final moments. As the scene shifts to a diner, a news broadcast about the film’s events leads to a conversation among patrons. There, viewers witness the stunning return of David Dunn, Willis’s character from Shyamalan’s 2000 filmUnbreakable.
In bothThe Sixth Sense and Split, Willis is integral to the final twist. In the case ofThe Sixth Sense,it’sWillis’s restrained and heartfelt performance that quietly steals the movie, helping the twist land with even more astonishment and poignancy. InSplit, Willis shepherds in the unexpected crossover withUnbreakable, delighting audiences and instantly setting the stage for the inevitable sequel, 2019’sGlass.
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The story of how Bruce Willis and M. Night Shyamalan came to work together begins in 1999 with thatSixth Sense script, a story that defied the conventions of the typical Hollywood blockbuster. Despite his background in high-octane action films like theDie Hardseries,Willis was quick to recognize the script’s potentialas well as the opportunity to plunge into a different, more cerebral type of character in Dr. Crowe.
The collaboration went so well that when Shyamalan approached Willis about hisSixth Sensefollow-up, Willis signed on toUnbreakablesight unseen. “There was no script when I said yes. It was just an idea,” Willis toldPeople. “[Shyamalan] wouldn’t tell me anything, he wouldn’t tell anybody. He just said, ‘I have an idea for a script that I want to write for you.’ I said, ‘I’m in.'” The back-to-back hits established Shyamalan as a young master storyteller to watch while solidifying Willis’ acting versatility.
Shyamalan and Willis’s mutual admiration and appreciation for twisty, complex narratives created a foundation of trust, allowing creative freedom to flourish in future team-upsSplitandGlass, pushing the boundaries of traditional storytelling. The creative synergy between the two resulted in some of cinema’s most memorable moments, demonstrating the magic that happens when the right creative forces align. WhileBruce Willis’s tragic aphasia diagnosissuggests audiences have seen their last collaboration, the duo’s work remains thrilling and resonant, leaving a lasting legacy for all their fans.
The Sixth Sense
Cast
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense is a psychological thriller about a young boy who can see and communicate with ghosts. Bruce Willis as Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist who tries to help Cole, played by Haley Joel Osment, while grappling with his own personal demons. The movie features a twist ending that has become iconic in pop culture.
Split
M. Night Shyamalan’s Split follows Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), a man with dissociative identity disorder, who kidnaps three teenage girls and imprisons them in an underground facility. When Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy) realizes that she can play Crumb’s personalities against one another, she begins to form a plan for escape before she is sacrificed to a creature he refers to as “the Beast”.
