Stir Of Echoes
(1999)
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The only real problem with Stir of Echoes has nothing to do with the movie itself, but with unlucky coincidence. Adapted from a Richard Matheson novel, this film arrived around the same time as The Sixth Sense. Surface similarities made it suffer by cursory comparison and the competing film's phenomenal success. It's a pity, because this one features one of Kevin Bacon's best performances, in a psychological thriller that makes a lot more right moves than wrong ones. Bacon plays a blue-collar guy who laments his ordinary life, only to learn, when his sister-in-law (Ileanna Douglas) hypnotizes him, that he is a "receiver" capable of seeing spirits and split-second glimpses of past and future events. It's a torturous gift to have--especially since his friendly Chicago neighbourhood possesses a dark secret--and Bacon plays the role with an appropriate mixture of obsession and internalised torment. Similarity to The Sixth Sense applies only to the basic premise and the character of Bacon's young son. Otherwise, this is more of a hard-edged journey of self-discovery, marital crisis, and recovery, with Bacon's wife (played by the highly underrated Kathryn Erbe) involved in an underdeveloped sub-plot about a group of people who share Bacon's gift as paranormal "receivers". Furthering his career as a writer-director of intelligent thrillers, David Koepp makes a few mis-steps in pacing and thematic overkill, but overall Stir of Echoes is a sharp, sensitive thriller that unfolds to reveal a dramatically satisfying solution to its mystery. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com |
In the US, David Koepp's creepy supernatural tale was completely overshadowed by The Sixth Sense. However, while it isn't as smart or satisfying, it delivers a handful of extremely frightening moments and a credible performance from Kevin Bacon as a man haunted by startling visions. Using jolting cuts and stylised camerawork to evoke fear rather than contemporary, effects-driven shocks, Koepp immerses the audience in an atmospheric mystery involving hypnotism, psychic powers, a dead girl and Bacon's son, who seems to share his “gift”. The film's biggest flaw is an overcooked final half hour, as Bacon's obsessive, destructive hunt for answers becomes slightly ludicrous. The last scene is a real chiller, though.
Halliwell's Film Guide
Muddled supernatural thriller that is at its best when concentrating on the normal: the relationship of an unfulfilled working-class man, who is finding it difficult to cope with life, and his concerned wife.