I think M. Night Shyalaman is highly highly overrated. I really liked one of his really early movies, Praying With Anger which was semi-demi-biographical with night himself playing the main role. Most other things were flawed and disappointing. I think you hit it on the head.. the films disappoint “precisely because it portrays flashes of brilliance”.

Unbreakable was good except the action moved too slowly. Sixth Sense was also good but I couldn’t help but recall that Jacob’s Ladder was superior movie which dealt with similar themes in a less gimicky fashion.

Also, my suspension of disbelief was low for the science-fictiony interpretation. I think it would have been more interesting and would have made more sense if he had gone the apocalyptic supernatural route.