Shyalaman follows up his sullen, atmospheric spook flick The Sixth
Sense with another sullen, atmospheric film, this time playing
skilfully with notions of heroism and comic-book consumption. Bruce
Willis survives a train wreck where everyone else dies, without
receiving a scratch. Mysterious, brittle-boned stranger Samuel L
Jackson may hold the answer. Inside this effective but tricksy
meditation on super hero conventions is a marvellously robust and
moving film fighting valiantly to get out. But as with The Sixth Sense,
the twist ending is almost a get-out clause, just in case you don't
appreciate what's preceded it. Stimulating and full of fabulous
moments nonetheless.
