Stir of Echoes (1999)

Director:

David Koepp

Writers (WGA):

Richard Matheson (novel)
David Koepp (screenplay)

Release Date:

10 September 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

Some doors weren't meant to be opened.

Plot:

After being hypnotized by his sister in law, a man begins seeing haunting visions of a girl's ghost and a mystery begins to unfold around her.

Plot Keywords:

Communication | Suspense | Sister In Law | Murder Suicide | Chicago

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

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

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, sexuality and language.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Philippines:R-18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Japan:PG-12 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Hungary:16 | Ireland:18 | Mexico:B | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 (video premiere) | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Artisan Entertainment

Trivia:

The tune that the son is helping Kevin Bacon figure out on the guitar is "Paint it Black" by the Rolling Stones. As previous trivia points out, this is the song playing during the rape flashback scene. However, the version of "Paint it Black" in the rape scene is actually played by Gob, not The Rolling Stones.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Tom reaches into the fridge for a carton of juice he accidentally knocks over a bottle of mustard. In the reverse shot, the mustard is neatly tucked away behind another jar.

Quotes:

Sheila: [to her husband after he stares at a group of girls] Why don't you just lick 'em when they walk by?

Movie Connections:

References "Mannix" (1967)

Soundtrack:

Meat Mania

A Little Too Close to its Literary Roots

The title "Stir of Echoes" pretty well sums up the problems with the movie. I might pick up a book by that title, particularly with the pedigree of Richard Matheson, arguably one of the greatest horror fantasy writers of the last 50 years. However, a movie titled "Stir of Echoes" wouldn't exactly compel me to run to nearest theatre. The opening sequence is also more appropriate for the preface of a novel than a movie. Had novelist Richard Matheson written his own screenplay, he would undoubtedly proceeded in a much more filmatic manner. So the film remains far too prosaic to be totally engrossing. Not that there is not a lot to like in this film. Kevin Bacon, Kathryn Erbe and Zachary David Cope all do fine jobs, and Illeana Douglas is as striking, sensuous and witty as ever. One direction the film took I did find especially annoying. When Erbe goes to see the Police Officer with "second sight" like Bacon and Cope, the filmakers chose to leave the audience out of the conversation. As a result, the scene goes no where and the film loses critical focus. Unlike some viewers, I felt showing the attempted rape-murder from the victim's point of view was an excellent, especially horrific touch. This enabled the audience to immediately identify with the victim and create more sympathy for Bacon's torment. "Stir of Echoes" is not a great movie, but it is a good one.