Semiotic Analysis

Semiotic Analysis

Semiotics in film is always an important and perplexing element in any picture. In the supernatural thriller “The Sixth Sense” made by M. Night Shyamalan, extreme symbolism is used to mystify and personify the feeling of fright to the viewer. Each symbol in the picture is an important contribution to the brilliance of the film.

In this film, and eight year old boy named Cole is haunted by a gift of seeing ghosts. Cole is terrified by visitations from these ghosts that want him to help them resolve things left undone in their previous lives. Cole, with no one left to turn to, goes to a psychologist named Dr. Malcolm Crowe that helps him though out the movie deal with his haunting gift.

One important symbol in this film is shadows and reflections. Shadows since the beginning of time have been known to symbolize spirits. At various points in the film, the camera reverts to shots of shadows that signify the presence of spirits around Cole.

Doors and windows are also extremely important in this film. Dr. Malcolm comes across many locked doors throughout the film. Doors are said to signify entrance

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into other dimensions and realities. Dr. Malcolm’s encounters with locked doors are a way of clueing the audience in on his severed connection with the real world. At one

point in the film Dr. Malcolm is looking through a glass window at his wife with another man. The glass is used to help signify the strain in Malcolm and his wife’s relationship.

The church, religious figurines and plastic toy soldiers are all also significant symbols in the film. Cole searches for a place of peace to hide from the ghosts, and Malcolm directs him to the church. Religious figurines such as figures of Jesus and various saints are focused on which all remind the viewer of death.

The cold temperature also signifies the coming of sprits. In each scene the temperature drops, and the characters breath is able to seen when a ghost is going to approach Cole.

Possibly the most reoccurring and important symbol through this film is use of the color red. I have heard various interpretations of red as a symbol in this film. In probably the most semiotic filled scene, Cole is traveling up a spiral staircase following a red balloon. In the shot, you can see Cole’s shadow on the wall of the staircase which we already have established as a symbol of relevant spirits. The spiral staircase is said to symbolize the journey into the afterlife, while the red balloon is supposed to symbolize a spirit as well. Another source of red in the film is the box that a dead girl gives to Cole to deliver to her family that has a video tape in it bound in a red ribbon. We later find