Stir of Echoes


Starring: Kevin Bacon, Kathryn Erbe, Illeana Douglas, Kevin Dunn
Directed by: David Koepp
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Thriller
1999

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: An ordinary guy (Kevin Bacon) has his life altered when his sister-in-law (Illeana Douglas) hypnotizes him at a party. When he awakens, he begins catching glimpses of the supernatural, which leads him on a quest to discover the truth behind his neighborhood's dark secret.

Review:

Tim: Stir of Echoes is a very chilling supernatural thriller. Sadly, it came out at the same time as The Sixth Sense and has so similar a plot that it got overshadowed by that bigger, better movie. However, this is still a very creepy.

The best part of the plot is that it really focuses on the supernatural events through Kevin Bacon's eyes- a regular guy trying to cope with the paranormal suddenly being introduced into his life.

As with all good horror movies, this one has a creepy little child. His scenes are among the most frightening. His own "powers" are more frightful than anything Bacon experiences.

The plot is somewhat tired and ultimately is too simplistic and contrite for its own good. It is a horror movie that (mostly) relies on sending a chill down your spine rather than making you jump- although I'll admit I jumped and gasped at least twice.

The film's finale isn't too exciting or new. It follows a conventional path. Still, this movie is a whole lot better than it probably should be and would have been more accepted had it not entered the world in the shadow of M. Night Shyamalan.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Sixth Sense, Hollow Man, Mystic River