Malcom Crowe (
Bruce Willis) is a child psychologist who receives an award on the same night that he is visited by a very unhappy ex-patient. After this encounter, Crowe takes on the task of curing a young boy with the same ills as the ex-patient (
Donnie Wahlberg) . This boy "sees dead people". Crowe spends a lot of time with the boy much to the dismay of his wife (
Olivia Williams). Cole's mom (
Toni Collette) is at her wit's end with what to do about her son's increasing problems. Crowe is the boy's only hope.