Rish Outfield's reviews
DIG!!!!
I'm not much of a reader, really. Statistically, it's true that I read more than 99% of the American population, but it's still not as much as I should. Many times, though, I'll see a movie based on a book, and if I like it, I'll want to read the book. This was one of those movies. I have been interested in Richard Matheson's work a lot lately, and after seeing this, I picked up I Am Legend and The Incredible Shrinking Man. You can now consider me a fan.
Not that any of that has to do with Stir of Echoes.
I liked this movie. Unfortunately, a couple of plot points here are similar to those in The Sixth Sense, and probably for that very reason, it didn't do well. Come to think of it, even without The Sixth Sense, this might not have been very successful. Still, it was enjoyable, and had some very scary moments. "Paint It Black" has always been an sinister song to me, and this film didn't change that. Kevin Bacon was very good. He's likable in a drinkin' buddy, everyman sort of way, so it's easy to put yourself in his character's shoes. Kevin Dunn was good too--I like him. He laughed at one of my jokes when I was an extra in a movie with him.
Best Scare: One of the many sudden appearances of the disturbing ghost images.
I'd Recommend It To: Check it out. It's pretty good.

The tyranist's thoughts
I remember this coming out shortly after The Sixth Sense and getting no respect at all. The critics spoiled it a little by pointing out that it featured a young boy who could see dead people. Okay, I admit that the premise seems awfully similar. In fact, I choose to look at it as two different people being given the same basic premise (character sees dead people, needs to help them) and creating two different movies. When you see this, you will easily spot similarities between the two, but they are definitely distinct. But if I ever hear another person tell me that this ripped off The Sixth Sense I will be tempted beyond my capacity to forbear.
Stir of Echoes is a harder-edged, more manic vision of what happens when the dead need us to help them. Kevin Bacon actually delivers one of my favorite of his performances and the rest of the cast fits so well, that the movie is almost seamless in that area. Additionally, this movie is just as well scripted as The Sixth Sense and just as well directed. It contains many a creepy moment and a few moments that elicited gasps from the audience that I saw it with. I probably can't convince you that this is a better movie since I can't convince myself, but I want to convince you to see this movie and give it a chance. It deserves it. On its own merits, it is a horror movie wherein the line between good and bad is blurred a little and the past is always there to haunt you. The husband and wife chemistry between Bacon and Kathryn Erbe is compelling. It left me wondering where my allegiances would lie. We knew the truth, but we knew that neither of them was really willing to lay the truth out for both of them to see. Tough situation.
See this movie, please. It is worth the time spent and while I can't promise perfection, I can promise a great perspective on a story we all loved.