Number 10
Dr. Malcolme Crowe
(61 points on 5 of 12 lists. Top Vote #5 ScottotD)
Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist in Philadelphia, returned home one night with his wife, Anna Crowe (Olivia Williams), after having been honored for his work. As Anna was telling Malcolm that everything is second to his work, a young man appeared brandishing a gun, and accused Malcolm of failing him. Malcolm recognized him as Vincent Grey, a former patient whom he treated as a child for hallucinations. Vincent shot Malcolm in the abdomen before turning the gun on himself.
The next fall, Malcolm began working with another patient, eight year old Cole Sear, whose case was similar to Vincent's. Malcolm became dedicated to the boy, though he was haunted by doubts over his ability to help him after his failure with Vincent. Meanwhile, his wife hardly paid any attention to him. At the same time, Malcolm had repeated difficulty opening the door to his basement office. Cole eventually confided his secret to Malcolm: he sees dead people, walking around like regular people, not knowing they're dead.
At first, Malcolm thought Cole is delusional and planned to drop him. Remembering Vincent, Malcolm listened to an audiotape from a session with Vincent, then a child. On the tape, Malcolm is heard leaving the room, and when he returned, Vincent was crying. Turning up the volume, Malcolm hears a weeping man instead of a child, and now believes that Cole was telling the truth and that Vincent may have had the same ability. He suggested to Cole that he should try to find a purpose for his gift by communicating with the ghosts and perhaps aid them with their unfinished business. At first, Cole was unwilling since the ghosts terrified him, but finally decided to do it.
Learning to live with the ghosts he sees, Cole started to fit in at school and got the lead in the school play, which Malcolm attended. The doctor and patient departed on positive terms and Cole suggested to Malcolm that he should try speaking to Anna while she is asleep.
Malcolm returns home, where he found his wife asleep with their wedding video playing. Asleep, Anna asked her husband why he left her, and dropped Malcolm's wedding ring, which he suddenly discovered he has not been wearing. He remembered what Cole said about ghosts and realizes that he was actually killed by Vincent that night, and was unknowingly dead the entire time he was working with Cole. Due to Cole's efforts, Malcolm's unfinished business—rectifying his failure to understand and help Vincent—was finally complete. Malcolm fulfilled the second reason he returned: to tell his wife she was never second, and that he loved her. His goal complete, he was free to leave the world of the living.
Malevolence2/10
He’s very helpful.
Spookiness2/10
It’d be less, but everyone whispers in this movie.