Moody ‘Sight’ Has Its Own Creepy Vision

Think of the most memorable line from “The Sixth Sense” and you’ll instantly know about a pivotal plot point driving “The Sight,” a new TV movie airing Sunday on cable’s FX. Have no fear, however. Initially derivative as it may be, this moody, atmospheric and strikingly shot thriller raises a few goosebumps by veering off in a compelling direction all its own.

For the sake of surprise, the less said about the story, the better, but here’s a broad synopsis. Andrew McCarthy plays Michael, a New York architect who restores old buildings with his partner (Kevin Tighe). The two fly to London, where they intend to work on a dilapidated hotel, arriving as police are pursuing an elusive serial killer.

While perusing the place, Michael spots a child who runs away and suddenly vanishes before you can say Haley Joel Osment.

Shortly thereafter, while driving at night, he hits and accidentally kills a woman (Honor Blackman, best known for her saucy roles in “The Avengers” and “Goldfinger”) who seems to have wandered away from a hospital. That puts him in contact with the police detective (Amanda Redman) who’s chasing the aforementioned killer.

Arriving back at his hotel, Michael discovers a ransacked room and 21 messages from disgruntled strangers saying such things as, “You’ll pay for what you’ve done!” From here, Michael eventually becomes an amateur sleuth, dealing with odd occurrences.

McCarthy’s Michael is engaging and intelligent, deftly utilizing a dry, humorous touch to shed light on his unusual albeit improbable situation. Supporting performances from Tighe, Blackman and Redman are equally assured.

By setting aside the obvious “Sixth Sense” connection, you can have a measure of macabre fun with the imaginative scenario devised by Paul W.S. Anderson, whose dark, foreboding direction is supplemented by sharp cinematography, editing and production design that give the film much of its grit and menace.

The second original movie to come from FX, this offbeat entry emerges as a wily and entertaining foray into the supernatural. All in all, it’s a sight for sore eyes.

* “The Sight” can be seen Sunday at 8 p.m. on FX. The network has rated it TV-PG-V (may be unsuitable for young children, with an advisory for violence).