MovieChat Forums > The Sixth Sense (1999) Discussion > Did Cole believed that Malcolm wasn't a ...

Did Cole believed that Malcolm wasn't a ghost?

posted 8 years ago by diegoalexio
36 replies | jump to latest

It's pretty clear that Cole was afraid to the ghosts the mayority of the film, but when he was with Malcolm, he was calmed and not scared, so if Cole believed that Malcolm was a live, why Malcolm's ghost was so different from the others, I mean, no scares things came with Malcolm althought he suffered a violent dead. It was so clear for Cole and the audience when a ghost arrived that the Malcolm situation seen a little cheating for make the final twist. Maybe the fact that Malcolm was a calm and lovely dude makes his ghost benign and not scare? I remember that Cole said to his mother that grandma visited him sometimes and she seens like another benign ghost like Malcolm, and the fact that Cole didn't know Malcolm before, plus that he was a benign ghost made him believe that Malcolm was alive? I was thinking on the idea that Cole actually known that Malcolm was a ghost but he decided trusted in him for been a benign ghost like his grandma but it's so clear in a couple scenes that Cole seens to think that he is talking with another alive person when talk with Malcolm, like when he tell him his secret, or when he talk about the feeling of been close to a ghost, or when he tell him to talk with Anna when she's sleeping, or just when he talk with him in general, Cole is so relax and calm with Malcolm that is weird that he seens to be so scare to the other ghosts.

What do you thing?

[–] diegoalexio 8 years ago

*What do you think? (Sorry, a tricky key)

[–] Stratego 8 years ago

Yes, he knew. When Cole first met Malcolm, he was afraid of him, that's why he fled to the church. After that, he still doesn't trust him and hesitates coming closer to him. But Malcolm keeps showing he's a good guy, and that's why Cole starts to feel more comfortable around him. Malcolm also must've shown up out of nowhere without anybody else notifying Cole and letting Malcolm in, so he must've known. Cole also describes the sensation he gets when a ghost is nearby, so he must also feel that when Malcolm is near.

[–] Dwright1212 8 years ago

This, exactly. Cole knew from the beginning that Malcolm was dead. Notice how he runs in fear and takes refugee in the church? He knew from the start. Afterwards, Cole was still extremely hesitant in interacting with him. He also didn't realize ghosts just wanted help until he met Malcolm.

La religion est fausse, mais vous êtes réel. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bpq26sPbC_4

[–] nancy-mitrione 8 years ago

I agree with the other posters. He was initially afraid of Malcolm, however, Malcolm's training and education in his field allowed him to win over trust in Cole.

[–] Rooney_Mara_Lover 8 years ago

He knew because he was afraid of Malcolm at first.

[–] dmayo-911-597432 8 years ago

You've put a major spoiler in the title of your post. Please take care not to do that again, and also to begin the body of the post with the standard line warning that it may contain spoilers (when that is the case).

Fortunately for me, I watched the movie last night and looked at this message board for the first time today.

[–] certificateoflivedickens 8 years ago

Sorry the 17 year statute of limitations has passed on spoilers.

[–] MikeNTxs 8 years ago

Actually, no it hasn't.

I was no youngster when this film was released and just actually watched it tonight for the first time. It's actually the first M. Night film I've seen where the ending paid off for me.

If I were 16, I might be watching it for the first time so no, I don't think there is a statute of limitations on spoilers.

[–] jpkrunch 8 years ago

You are correct. There is no statute of limitations on any movie. That being said, only a pure fool would come on a message board for a movie they have not seen. So at least you have that going for you. Reviews are another matter.

I would say my memory is not what it used to be. But I don't remember what my memory used to be.

[–] lachancejeanphilippe 8 years ago

Personally, I think he didn't know Malcolm was a ghost. The way he died (peacefully) and the fact that he didn't know he was dead made him non-threatening to Cole and also of course his wound was not apparent. He could't make the difference between him and the living because he was not acting like the others and looked normal. We see a lot of Jesus figurines and religious sybolism in his hideout so the reason he goes to church is not to hide but to pray, in latin no less. The reason he's running could be from any ghosts out there in the streets. Remember, he sees them all. Also, when they play their game Cole tell Malcom that what he was thinking was that he was nice but couldn't help him like the other psychiatrist before him. That seems to suggest he doesn't know Malcolm is ghost. And at the end when Cole tell Malcom that they won't see each other again, it's because Malcolm saved him. I really believe that if Cole knew Malcolm was a ghost, he would have told him, instead he confessed in him. Now, i know there are many people who thinks Cole knew and maybe they're right. It's just my interpretation. I guess the only one who really know is M. Night. Shyamalan.

[–] Stratego 8 years ago

He could't make the difference between him and the living because he was not acting like the others and looked normal.

Cole actually describes a sensation he feels when ghosts are around, not just angry ghosts. So I would say he does know. And I already mentioned it in this thread, but he would certainly notice Malcolm showing up at school and his house out of nowhere.

It's not just at the church that Cole seems frightened, Cole is wary of Malcolm even after their first meeting and only slowly starts trusting him. No other presence of a ghost is suggested, so I don't think there's any reason to assume he was not fleeing from Malcolm. Wouldn't Cole have asked him who he was if he didn't know he was a ghost?

I really believe that if Cole knew Malcolm was a ghost, he would have told him, instead he confessed in him

I really don't agree with that. As shown, ghosts don't move on just because they know they're dead. They need to resolve some issue from their past life. Telling Malcolm wouldn't have helped him, only made him more upset probably.

[–] lachancejeanphilippe 8 years ago

Even though nothing suggest there are other ghosts, Cole also say they are everywhere and that he see them all the time. And the theory you're talking about is not something Cole came up with. It's Malcolm doing his research to hekp Cole that discover this...

[–] lachancejeanphilippe 8 years ago

Help*

[–] lachancejeanphilippe 8 years ago

Also the argument that he is defiant at first is a. not very good one because he is this way with everyone even his own mother. He believes that everybody thinks he is a freak always complaining about how people look at him. Also if it's Malcolm that explain to him that ghosts just want someone to listen to them and not the other way around, Cole couldn't try to protect Malcolm knowingly.

[–] lachancejeanphilippe 8 years ago

Cole even tell it himself, only once they get upset or mad, I don't remember the exact words, only then it gets cold. Malcolm being always calm and relax around him, Cole couldn't have had shivers due to his presence. Without this hint, he can't tell he's a ghost.

[–] bsharporflat-50959 8 years ago

Cole even tell it himself, only once they get upset or mad, I don't remember the exact words, only then it gets cold. Malcolm being always calm and relax around him, Cole couldn't have had shivers due to his presence. Without this hint, he can't tell he's a ghost.

As someone else mentioned:

Cole actually describes a sensation he feels when ghosts are around, not just angry ghosts.

The hairs stand up on the back of his neck, etc. Cole never has a problem knowing if someone is real or a ghost. It is GHOSTS who don't know they are ghosts.

[–] kmags84 8 years ago

He knows from their first meeting in the Church. Watch the film again and pay close attention to how Cole interacts with the Ghosts, including how he speaks to Malcolm. He gives it away a few times, you just need to listen closely. It's not even debatable. I'm not being a douche, just saying that it's definitely there.

[–] jpkrunch 8 years ago

Nonsense. Malcolm's wife was not remotely upset when she was speaking to him at the end and the condensation was flowing from her breath. Interesting, however, that it was not when he q=was at the restaurant. I suppose she did not feel his presence at that time.

I would say my memory is not what it used to be. But I don't remember what my memory used to be.

[–] Stratego 8 years ago

Malcolm's wife wasn't the one who was dead...

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jpkrunch 8 years ago

you are right. Duh!

I would say my memory is not what it used to be. But I don't remember what my memory used to be.

[–] SaliceMcD 8 years ago

I don't think Malcolm died peacefully. We don't know how long he lived after being shot, but that happened in the midst of a home invasion, while he was no doubt fearing for his wife's life, as well. And we're likely seeing him whole and uninjured as that's how he sees himself.

I think Cole knows he won't see him again as he's resolved his issues.

One thing that bugged me was the "it gets cold when they're angry" bit. Malcolm wasn't angry in the end as he looked at his wife, yet her breath fogs. This was used to lead him to realize what he was, I get that, so the earlier "angry" thing should have been deleted or changed to "emotional" or the like.

[–] Stratego 8 years ago

"Upset" would probably be a better word. But you don't think there was some anger there when he realized he was a ghost and relived his own death?

[–] SaliceMcD 8 years ago

Gosh, no! I just re-watched the final scene to be sure. He's confused and scared, then sad as he says goodbye to his wife.

[–] Stratego 8 years ago

I disagree, I do think he was somewhat angered when realizing he was dead and that his perfect life with a wife and a job he loved had been taken away from him. But the word used was actually "mad", which can also mean "confused", "frantic" or "wildly excited".

[–] walkerus 8 years ago

I don't believe that Cole knew Malcolm was a ghost, why else would it be so important to Cole that Malcolm believed him? "Do you believe me?" Cole asked, if he knew Malcolm was already dead he wouldn't have said that. Good film, just watched it for the third time in a couple of years and enjoyed it, even knowing the ending. Also I just found out the Writer and Director also had a small part in the film as the Doctor in the hospital ..... M. Night Shyamalan and he did a great job as Director.

[–] diegoalexio 8 years ago

Humm... Good point!

[–] Stratego 8 years ago

It was important he believed him because he finally trusted that Malcolm wouldn't hurt him and hoped that he could really help him as a psychiatrist. Cole knew he was a ghost since he was scared and fled inside the church when they first met, didn't even dare to talk to him out lout in the beginning and told Malcolm that talking to his wife in her sleep would solve his problem, also saying that they would never see each other again. Also take into consideration that his mother never even mentioned Malcolm, not even when he showed up out of nowhere at his house or at school. And Cole describes a sensation he feels when a ghost is around.

[–] RealGeronimo 8 years ago

He knew he was a ghost.
Remember how Malcolm never talks to anybody around when he is with Cole.
He only talks to him when they are alone together.

Nikola Tesla invented radio

[–] vandl75 8 years ago

A couple other points:

- "ghosts only see what they want to see". In the scenes with Malcolm, we may have been seeing them through his perspective. It's why we never saw the chill in the air around his wife until the very last scene, when he finally realized he was dead. So I'm not sure the fact that Bruce Willis behaved differently than the other ghosts means too much. Cole may have had a very different perception of those same events, more similar to how the other ghosts presented.

-After the very first introduction, Cole said "I'll be seeing you again, won't I?" To the audience, it was implied Cole was talking about future therapy sessions. But in retrospect, he was talking about Malcolm (the ghost) revisiting just as some of the other ghosts seem to come back (like the grandma). Some apparently do not.