Stir of Echoes (1999)

Director: David Koepp

Cast: Zachary David Cope as Jake Witzky, Kevin Bacon as Tom Witzky, Kathryn Erbe as Maggie Witzky, Illeana Douglas as Lisa Weil, Kevin Dunn as Frank McCarthy, Conor O'Farrell as Harry Damon, Lusia Strus as Sheila McCarthy, Stephen Eugene Walker as Bobby, Mary Kay Cook as Vanessa Damon, Larry Neumann Jr. as Lenny, Jennifer Morrison as Samantha Kozac (as Jenny Morrison), Richard Cotovsky as Neighborhood Man, Steve Rifkin as Kurt Damon, Chalon Williams as Adam McCarthy, Liza Weil as Debbie Kozac, the Babysitter

Before 1999 this type of supernatural thrillers/horror didn't really
existed. This all changed after the release of "The Sixth Sense". It
was an huge hit and the movie was the talk of the year. It launched a
totally new genre of movies. Every movie of the same 'type' released
after "The Sixth Sense" was considered by everyone lame, unoriginal and
a rip-off and a movie to quickly cash in after the success of "The
Sixth Sense". "Stir of Echoes" was released only a month after "The
Sixth Sense" and people wanted to know nothing of it. Completely
unfair, also since I thought that the script was even being written
before "The Sixth Sense" was and I also thought that filming completed
earlier but yet it was released later in cinemas. Who knows what would
have happened to this movie if it was released before "The Sixth
Sense...It surely would had been appreciate more than it was now.

I'm glad that the movie by now is finally starting to receive the
credit it deserves.

You also have to remember that in 1999 these type of movies were still
fresh and new, so everything about it was original. However by todays
standards the movie perhaps doesn't really seem that original anymore,
since dozens like this sort of movie are being made every year now.

The story is greatly written by David Koepp, who really is one of the
best writers in the business. Everything is build up perfectly slowly
and mysteriously. You never know what is going to happen next and the
movie offers more than enough surprise. In the beginning you really
don't know what the movie is going to be about or were its trying to
head to. You don't know if its real what is happening or is it just the
main character imagining things. It provides the movie with mystery and
an uneasy atmosphere.

The movie above all is a supernatural thriller (that also definitely
has some similarities by the way with "The Sixth Sense", which also
might be a reason why it was received so coolly) but the movie also
features some real horror elements. And remember again, this was all
quite new and refreshing for 1999 standards. I was actually quite blown
away by the movie when I first saw it, which must have been in 2000 or
something.

Kevin Bacon is really know for being the biggest Hollywood lead and he
normally plays supporting roles, especially before this movie. This
movie is perhaps the first one that truly allows Bacon to shine and
show his skill as an actor and proof to the world that he can really
carry a movie. It was nice and refreshing to see Kathryn Erbe in
something different than "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" for a change.
She plays such a different character. It shows how good as an actress
she actually is.

The movie is well directed by David Koepp himself and he knows how to
bring his own story to the screen. The movie further more features some
nice special effects, that are used only in the right places. The movie
is still definitely much better and more refreshing than most genre
movies being released today.

Deserves to become a real genre-classic!

9/10