Rating: 
Summary: As good as 6th sense
Review: The new Hollywood player "Artisan Entertainment" offers up its second outing in the wake of the "Blair Witch Project". The "Stir of Echoes" is based on a long out of print novel which has been adapted by screenwriter/director David Koepp. Koepp is responsible for writing such huge hits as both "Jurassic Parks", "Mission: Impossible" and "Men In Black." His last directing effort was 1996's "Trigger Effect" which told of paranoia erupting during a mass blackout in LA. In "Stir of Echoes" we encounter more paranoia and its effects on a Chicago-based family. The cause of the paranoia comes when the head of the family (Kevin Bacon) is hypnotized by an unlicensed hypno-therapist (Illeana Douglas). The hypnosis opens an unlocked chamber of Bacon's mind and unleashes a long kept secret come to life. "Stir of Echoes" is a very light and subtle ghost story thriller. How can a film like this overcome the flooded horror genre market? Well the standout performance by Kevin Bacon is probably a good start as he gives one of his best in recent years. His protective nature towards his boy, his obsession with trying to solve his polluted mind and his reactions with the supernatural phenomenon bring out every reaction in Bacon. The portrayal reminded me a lot of Craig T Nelson in the classic "Poltergeist" as an every day man trying to battle the unknown. Other evidences of "Poltergeist" were in the "little boy" who knows more than his parents and seems to be in tune with the corporeal world. One aspect of Echoes which is never fully explored is the "open-minded" underground where the wife learns that only 8% of the population have the ability to see the corporeal world. Begging for help this intriguing subplot could have been the key this supernatural thriller needed. Except the story takes the obvious road and we end at the conclusion. Was this fully explored in the novel? We may never know. So if you are a Kevin Bacon fan see "Stir of Echoes" and if you want to see a good ghost story then see this film.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as Sixth Sense
Review: This movie that has plot holes and predictablity written all over it only holds together with the marginal acting performances. This movie was a big let down to me. I should have read the book.
Rating:
Summary: Good movie overlooked.
Review: This was definitely a sleeper hit when it was released in the theaters, a victim of bad timing as it was released around the same time as the Sixth Sense. The story can be somewhat predictable at times, but with the great acting and incredible cinematography, it's an entirely enjoyable movie. Kevin Bacon surprised the hell out of me, doing a great job. The DVD version of Stir of Echos has to be one of the creepiest movies to watch on a great home theater system. With the lights off, the posistioned audio effects will get your heart pounding and immerse you in the film. If you scare easily, watch this with someone to grab onto.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT movie!
Review: This a fantastic movie with many errie and disturbing moments! This movie is great because it doesn't get too far off the plot. There were few glitches and most of the movie was greatly explained. Also, the acting, directing, and cinematography is purely horror and very original.
Rating:
Summary: Bacon makes up for everything else
Review: I haven't seen the Sixth Sense so I am not comparing...I think Stir of Echos is very predictable. It is not a horror movie IMHO. Rent it if you want to see it. I feel I have wasted my money. The 3 stars I am giving basically go to Bacon. He is really great in his role. To bad the movie couldn't have been better to honor his performance. Also as some other reviewers have pointed out, the info says it is standard but it actually has the black bands of widescreen.
Rating: 
Summary: Stirring Film
Review: In Stir of Echoes, a blue collar guy named Tom (Kevin Bacon) finds himself envisioning snatches of images he can't understand after being hypnotized at a party by his sister-in-law (Illeana Douglas, Picture Perfect). At first he shrugs it off as a side-effect of the hypnosis, but when he sees a dead girl sitting beside him on the couch he becomes unglued. Soon his life is turned upside down by this new ability, and he becomes obsessed with trying to discover its meaning. The story is a murder mystery, combined with the paranormal world of psychic experiences. While the murder mystery part isn't too difficult to figure out, the joy comes from following Tom on his quest and sliding deeper into the weirdness that has taken over his life. Jake (Zachary David Cope), the son, is likewise gifted, and gives a strange chorus to his father's madness. There may be some who are put off by seeing a film with Bacon in it, especially a horror movie. I -- for one -- had images of Flatliners running through my mind. (Definitely not his best work.) But all my fears were unjustified. Bacon does a great job, not only at making us believe his character, but in making his character believe in what is happening to him. The reactions by Maggie (Tom's wife, played by Kathryn Erbe) are right on the money. She is torn between her desire to help her husband and her inability to accept what is happening. When he tells her that this is the most important thing to happen in his "stupid life," she immediately takes offense at how he perceives their way of life. Her responses, and how she plays off Bacon, help to make both characters real. Stir of Echoes gives that weird feeling that a good "Twilight Zone" episode would leave me with. I don't think it will ever be as popular as The Sixth Sense. Still, if you're in a mood for something weird, it's worth checking out. Something to watch for: there was a nice bit of homage to Matheson's work, but if you blink you'll miss it. The babysitter, Debbie, is reading a copy of the well-known sci-fi classic, The Shrinking Man. I caught it because I recently picked up a used copy of the novel and it had the same cover.
Rating:
Summary: Stir Of Echoes
Review: Easily as good as the Sixth Sense with less plot holes. Kevin Bacon proves he can carry a movie in a story that never lets up for a momment and keeps you hooked without becoming over complicated or ridiculous. One to watch with the lights off on a rainy night. Chilling stuff.
Rating:
Summary: Dolby Surround 5.1 at it's best
Review: This is an awesome DVD, ultimate sound quality. I started watching this movie at 9:00pm in a dark room with only candle lights hermetically sealed with my surround sound speakers. 20 minutes into the movie, I thought about stopping and watching it during the day. The sound effects with 5.1 gives you an eerie feeling. Scary. It is the best sound I ever experienced with a DVD movie. Oh, about the movie, read the other 29 reviews, but I thought it was an extremely well made movie that kept you on edge for the 95 minutes it lasted. Buy and enjoy this one, it is a keeper.
Rating:
Summary: Scariest move I have ever seen
Review: I'm never watching it again, I was so scared. I should have rented it, then I could have returned it! Whew! Do not watch this alone! If you scare easily this movie is not for you, unfortunately I had no idea what it was about. Acting is terrific and cinematography is very realistic.
Rating:
Summary: The Sixth Sense?
Review: Haley Joel Osment isn't the only one seeing dead people these days! In this gripping and highly electrified film, Kevin Bacon is the one being haunted by visions from beyond the grave. Bacon portrays Tom, a working-class guy with a wife, a kid, and a normal suburban life -- that is until a party game of hypnotism goes strangely awry leaving Tom with haunting abilities. This movie has all the intrigue and suspense as the well-known Bruce Willis vehicle, with a little extra boost. This is another movie that you'll have to watch again to catch all the little things you overlooked the first time, plus the DVD has plenty of extra features. All in all, it is a well-balanced mix of horror, suspense, and drama -- all of which is hightened by the outstanding performances from the cast. If you like to see people seeing dead people, then this is the movie for you.
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