The Sixth Sense Analyses

Sound:

In the opening sequence of ‘The Sixth Sense’, as the title screen is playing, with all the names of the actors and producers ect, there is an eerie piece of music played over the background. This creates a mysterious and eerie atmosphere and sets the mood for the rest of the film. The eeriness also suggests what genre the film is. As well as this, it makes the audience think about what is going to happen in the film and is it something bad (which is suggested by the music).

Further on in the sequence, the load footsteps of the woman walking into her basement. The load footsteps create a sense of isolation and her being alone. This makes the audience fell fear towards the woman as the loud steps create an eeriness and can also make them think that something bad might happen to her while she is down there alone.

Cinematography:

In the opening sequence, the extreme close up of the light bulb turning on crafts a sense of mystery as it stars of pitch black but can see the outline of a shape, then as the bulb begins to light up, the audience then see what the object actually is. Moreover as the audience see the bulb lighting up slowly, it suggests that someone might be in the basement and has time to hide until the character enters.

Further on in the sequence, the crane shot of the women looking up and down the wine rack make the audience feel worried for the women. As the camera watches the characters pick out a wine bottle it makes the audience feel like there is someone it something watching her. This will make the audience think about what it is that is watching her and what is going to happen to her.

Mise en Scene:

In the opening sequence, the low key lighting of the basement implies danger and mystery to the atmosphere of the basement. It immediately shows that something isn’t right about the basement and that the character doesn’t want to spend a lot of time down there. This can also relate to the audience as many people have a basement and they know how eerie and creepy they are, therefore they understand and can relate to the characters feelings about the basement.    

Additionally, the vast number of wine bottles in the wine rack suggests the character and her family are quite wealthy. This can infer as she has a high status, she shouldn’t be afraid of the basement as they are well educated and know there isn’t anything down there and to think there is would be preposterous. But as the character is worried and doesn’t want to be in the basement, it shows a possibility that there could be something or someone down there. This makes the audience become even more scared for the character and they are starting to think that there is something or someone down there too. 

Editing:

In the opening sequence, right at the beginning during the title sequence, with the titles fading in and out slowly creates a spooky mood and set the atmosphere for the film. It also make the audience wonder what is going to happen in to film as it fade in and out slowly creating tension and suspense.

Furthermore, the text type ‘Serif’ suggests the seriousness of the film and the danger of what might happen in it. It makes the audience think about what’s going to happen and makes them feel anxious about the film.