Stir of Echoes Collection

Kevin Bacon

Kathryn Erbe

Illeana Douglas

Zachary David Cope

Kevin Dunn

Conor O'Farrell

Liza Weil

Lusia Strus

Stephen Eugene Walker

Mary Kay Cook

Larry Neumann Jr.

Jennifer Morrison

Richard Cotovsky

Steve Rifkin

Chalon Williams

George Ivey

Lisa Lewis

Mike Bacarella

Christian Stolte

Eddie Bo Smith Jr.

Hyowon K. Yoo

James Andelin

Karen Vaccaro

Antonio Polk

Rosario Varela

Duane Sharp

David Koepp

Judy Hofflund

Gavin Polone

James Newton Howard

Fred Murphy

Jill Savitt

Richard Matheson

Andrew Kevin Walker

Nelson Coates

Leesa Evans

Mary Colquhoun

Michele Weisler

James Fierro

Carl Paoli

Randy Popplewell

Bobby Stuart

Mark Harper

Tom Lowell

Ken Remer

Larry C. Tankson

David W. Krummel

Susie Goulder

Frank Perl

Steven Hiller

Linda Gacsko

Kristine Scott Schultz

Gerrit Dangremond

Alan Thatcher

Karel Capek

Dean M. Simmon

Jacqui Howell

Michael P. Weinstein

Andy Walzer

Timothy S. Hale

Eric Leach

John Axelrad

Fred C. Vitale

Alphonse Blumenthal

John P. Friday

Sam Bertone

Ray Pope

Rory Herbster

Paul Bianco

Luis Cato

Christopher Glasgow

Dave Murphy

Richard Rios, Jr.

H. David Stephenson

Al Suildebhain

Kevin Wisor

Andrew Yuncza

Fernando M. Briones

Theodore A. Corso

Brian McKinley

Bill Reilly

Mike A. Scheitler

Chris Stloukal

Matthew Tufano

Daniel Yates

James Ritchie

Steve Meyers

Don Parsons

William Sears

Kelly R. Borisy

Fred Folmer

Jason Storandt

Jim Handly

Chris Ryerson

Walter J. Piers

Dino Yario

Mark Castelaz

James Dewinski

Joey Fishman

Ronald Leahy

Donna McLain

Thomas Sedor

Christy Taddeo

Ronald Crededio

Martin Ferguson

Adam Griswald

Stanley Mack

Rob Rownd

Steve Seukiw

Rick Thomas

Dave Williamson

Charles 'Chip' Orr

Richard Beck

Charles DelGreco

Thomas Mullaney

Rolland Pudil

Stella Cottini

Mardie Anderson

Gina Marie Ome

Linda Melazzo

Chip Williams

Suzi Ostos

LunYé Marsh

Laine Trzinski

Horror

Mystery

Thriller

Stir of Echoes

Artisan Entertainment

Hofflund/Polone

United States of America

I see a red door and I want to paint it black!

Stir of Echoes is written and directed by David Koepp who adapts from the novel of the same name written by Richard Matheson. It stars Kevin Bacon, Kathryn Erbe, Zachary David Cope, Illena Douglas, Jennifer Morrison, Kevin Dunn and Conor O'Farrell. Music is scored by James Newton Howard and cinematography by Fred Murphy.

Chicago phone engineer Tom Witzky (Bacon) submits to being hypnotised by his sister-in-law and finds that his young son's imaginary friend is not imagined after all...

Undeniably lost in the slip-stream of the similar themed "The Sixth Sense", Stir of Echoes screams out to be seen by more fans of supernatural mysteries. It's a near faultless production, with Koepp getting all the key ingredients right on both the page and in transfer to the screen. Pacing is often the problem with films of a similar ilk, but Koepp deftly structures it in three engrossing sections.

First third establishes the main characters and the supernatural set-up, but the bonus here is that character reactions are believable, especially with Erbe's confused wife. Koepp has a great sense of atmosphere whilst ensuring we are fully immersed in Tom Wizky's new world of disorientation by way of terrifying visions and red light shocks. Second third brings the chills and the odd boo-jump, again the director is aware that too many jumps can overkill the plot, so they are nicely spaced out and accompanied by a palpable fear of the unknown. Then the last third unravels in a whirl of Roy Neary like obsessions and ghosts of the past denouements. It's a standard formula, yet it's amazing just how often film makers get it wrong, especially in horror. Not a problem here. 

Film is further boosted by Newton Howard's score that blends the ethereal with rising thunder and Murphy's colour photography, the latter of which helps to paint a harmonious Chicago neighbourhood, soon to be turned upside down, literally at one end of the street. The acting is super, which in Bacon's case is a given to anyone who has followed his career, and Koepp shows some nice and creepy visual filming techniques to further enhance the great Richard Matheson's story. There's the odd little misstep, such as a thread involving a secret organisation that has the "gift" of being "open" to the supernatural, that feels like filler to over state Tom's torment. While the post reaction to a suicide attempt isn't given nearly enough screen time to really add impetus to the unfolding mystery. But small complaints only, for Stir of Echoes (great title) remains a truly involving and entertaining supernatural mystery. 8.5/10

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Stir of Echoes (1999) - Trailer