Stir of Echoes
A Artisan Entertainment release

review by Joe Mauceri

Premise:  A hard-working regular joe undergoes hypnosis at a party. As a result it opens a place in his mind that allows him to communicate with other realms. He becomes obsessed with a troubled ghost and the mystery surrounding her death.

Review: STIR OF ECHOES is based on the novel by Richard Matheson. Matheson is the grandfather of the supernatural thriller. His work shaped our nightmares and blazed a trail through the surreal with his work on "The Twilight Zone" and "The Night Stalker." From Stephen King to Anne Rice, many modern masters of terror can trace their horror roots to his works. So it's not surprising that a few of the themes in STIR OF ECHOES seem to be borrowed from other films. In this case, the reverse is the truth.

STIR OF ECHOES is a powerful cinematic adaption, as much of a compelling supernatural thriller as the novel. Its strength lies in the respect for the material by the director and screenwriter, David Koepp. Koepp understands the power and ability of the tale to scare arises from the characters. The director chose not to overload the film with "state-of-the-art" special effects, or overburdened it with numerous Hollywood stars. In the "Danse Macabre," Stephen King talks about the "set of reality." It is the ability of a film to allow the audience to forget they are in a crowded theater and be drawn into the drama. Koepp achieves this with strong performances and subtle visual effects that create suspense, mystery and pure terror. One of STIR OF ECHOES definitive sequences is the way Koepp portrays Witzky/Bacon being put into a hypnotic trance. Koepp pushes all the right buttons. At the same time, he tugs on our emotional strings through the tragic circumstances surrounding the ghost's tragic death.

Bacon's performance harkens back to Richard Dreyfuss' obsessed character in "Close Encounters." The director and actor concentrate on the character's dark descent into madness, and take the audience along for the ride. Kathryn Erbe strong, passionate performance contrasts Bacon's perfectly. Zachary David Cope is yet another gifted young actor to grace the screen this summer.

Tying everything together is a magical score by James Newton Howard. A rare treat that is invisible, yet enhances the performances and seasons the visuals.

Many bad genre films, as well as a few good ones, have borrowed ideas from the legendary Richard Matheson. David Koepp's cinematic adaptation of STIR OF ECHOES is a slick, stylish supernatural thriller that taps into the captured in the novel. Koepp is a gifted visual storyteller. His unique take on certain elements is encased by classical setups that make the drama and terror accessible to a wide audience. STIR OF ECHOES is a frightening compliment to fans who can't get enough scares, and left wanting more by THE SIXTH SENSE. It's just a shame that there isn't a bit more distance between the release of the two.

OFFICIAL WEB SITE:
http://www.stirofechoes.com

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