A Stir of Echoes (1999) is a movie I just rented from Netflick. It was one of the names I put in my queue. I really did not know what to expect, and that was a good thing. Looking for a Movie to kill some home time? You could do far worse. The movie was directed by David Koepp, a writer of many a screenplay including this one. He knows his craft. The original story was written by the master, Richard Matheson. The movie has a fine cast, with Kevin Bacon in the lead role, as Tom, The father of a young son, the spiritually connected Jake. Beautifully played by Zachary David Cope. Tom is wed to the intense and beautiful Maggie, played by Kathryn Erbe. The entire cast is well chosen. We get very early on that the child is talking to an unseen presence. We also see Tom and Maggie as a very down to earth pair of lovers. The Troubles that had begun far sooner and went unnoticed, were amplified when a friend of Maggie's places Tom under deep hypnosis at a party. She makes him susceptible through post hypnotic suggestion to, "thing's" going on about their house. For Tom it brings confusing visions and nightmares. I recommend this movie. It is well scripted, Acted, shot, and put together. It is nicely scored by James Newton Howard. I wondered at times if it was going to resort to standard horror film conventions, It was strong on mood, but it did not. I appreciated the logic that pulled everything tighter in a satisfactory manner. I do not want to give the plot away, suffice to say, It is one of the better ghost movies I have seen. And yes, critics note that it was released the same time as The Sixth's Sense. Another knockout of a movie. The similarity of the two movies is glancing. Both hold up very well. I would give this a good Eight out of Ten, "What just happened?" Stars
Review of Stir of Echoes
