It’s hard to ignore that Philadelphia-born director M.Night Shyamalan created one of the most indelible marks in cinema in the last 25 years. Ask the average film fan to explain Shyamalan’s impact, and the answer is quite simple: he consistently delivers a potent mix of deft storytelling and unexpected plot twists that leave audiences reeling.
Among Shyamalan’s extensive filmography two films stand out for their particularly mind-bending twists: The Sixth Sense (1999) and To divide (2016). These two films, separated by almost two decades, share a compelling and difficult to ignore connection.
The two best twists in M. Night Shyamalan’s film involve Bruce Willis
Shyamalan’s crazy twists left viewers stunned – and Willis played a major role in both
In The Sixth SenseWillis 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 unfolds with a haunting and ever-increasing sense of mystery and tension.culminating in the shocking ending that Dr. Crowe himself was dead the entire time, unseen by anyone in the film except Cole. This revelation not only shocked viewers, but it also instantly cemented Shyamalan as a master of the unexpected twist.
Fast forward to 2016, when after disappointing reviews and box office receipts from recent films like The Last Airbender After Earthand The visitShyamalan made a triumphant return with To divide. To divide follows Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), a man with dissociative identity disorder who kidnaps three teenagers. However, the real shock comes in the final moments. As the scene shifts to a diner, a news report about the events of the film leads to a conversation among the customers. There, viewers witness the stunning return of David Dunn, Willis’ character from Shyamalan’s 2000 film. Unbreakable.
In both The Sixth Sense and DivisionWillis is an integral part of the final twist. In case of The Sixth Sense, that’s it Willis’ restrained and sincere performance that quietly steals the filmhelping the twist land with even more amazement and poignancy. In To divideWillis grazes at the unexpected intersection with Unbreakabledelighting audiences and instantly setting the stage for the inevitable sequel, 2019 Glass.
Bruce Willis and M. Night Shyamalan’s history of collaborations explained
Sometimes a director and an actor just get in sync
The story of how Bruce Willis and M. Night Shyamalan began working together begins in 1999 with this Sixth SenseThe script, a story that defied the conventions of the typical Hollywood blockbuster. Despite his experience in high-octane action films like Die Hard series, Willis was quick to recognize the script’s potential as well as the opportunity to delve into a different, more cerebral character type in Dr. Crowe.
The collaboration went so well that when Shyamalan approached Willis about his Sixth Sense follow-up, Willis signed a contract Unbreakable invisible view. “There was no script when I said yes. It was just an idea” said Willis People. “[Shyamalan] He didn’t tell me anything, he didn’t tell anyone. He just said, ‘I have an idea for a script 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’ mutual admiration and appreciation for complex and twisting narratives created a foundation of trustallowing creative freedom to flourish in future teams To divide and Glassgoing beyond the limits of traditional narrative. The creative synergy between the two has resulted in some of cinema’s most memorable moments, demonstrating the magic that happens when the right creative forces align. Although Bruce Willis’ tragic aphasia diagnosis suggests that audiences have seen their last collaboration, the duo’s work remains moving and resonant, leaving a lasting legacy for all their fans.
Source: People