Stir of Echoes poster & wallpaper

Illeana Douglas, Kevin Bacon, Zachary David Cope

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.

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69% liked it

57,093 ratings

Critics

67% liked it

103 critics

R, 94 min.

Directed by: David Koepp

Release Date: September 10, 1999

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DVD Release Date: August 21, 2001

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Stats: 2,528 reviews

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Jennifer Morrison [ghost] of Samantha Kozac in Stir of Echoes (1999) Larry Neumann Jr. as Lenny in Stir of Echoes (1999) Scenes from Stir of Echoes (1999) Jennifer Morrison [ghost] of Samantha Kozac in Stir of Echoes (1999) Kathryn Erbe as Maggie Witzky in Stir of Echoes (1999) Kathryn Erbe as Maggie Witzky, Kevin Bacon as Tom Witzky in Stir of Echoes (1999) Kathryn Erbe as Maggie Witzky, Kevin Bacon as Tom Witzky and Zachary David Cope as Jake Witzky in Stir of Echoes (1999) Jennifer Morrison [ghost] of Samantha Kozac in Stir of Echoes (1999) Zachary David Cope as Jake Witzky in Stir of Echoes (1999) Stir of Echoes Zachary David Cope as Jake Witzky in Stir of Echoes (1999) Kevin Bacon - stir of echoes Jennifer Morrison [ghost] of Samantha Kozac in Stir of Echoes (1999) Kevin Bacon as Tom Witzky in Stir of Echoes (1999) Kathryn Erbe as Maggie Witzky, Kevin Bacon as Tom Witzky and Illeana Douglas as Lisa Weil in Stir of Echoes (1999) Kevin Bacon as Tom Witzky in Stir of Echoes (1999) Kevin Bacon as Tom Witzky in Stir of Echoes (1999) Kevin Bacon as Tom Witzky in Stir of Echoes (1999)
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Flixster Reviews (2,528)

  • DrZeek
    September 29, 2009
    DrZeek
    Jake Witzky: Does it hurt to be dead?

    A solid psychological thriller, with Kevin Bacon giving a strong lead performance. Arriving and being overshadowed by the Sixth Sense back in 1999, the film has a similar plot and tone, and while it may not be as good, this film still mana...( read more)ges to provide a fresh take on a ghost story.

    Loosely based on the Richard Matheson (the I Am Legend story) novel of the same name, Bacon stars as Tom, a regular working man, living with his wife and young son in Chicago. One night during a party, Tom, his wife Maggie, and their sister Lisa discuss hypnotism with the rest of their friends. It seems Lisa practices hynpo-therapy, but Tom is very much a skeptic. Convinced to try, Tom lets Lisa hypnotise him, only to have it work more effectively than planned.

    Arriving back at home, Tom begins to experience short bursts of visions. These visions are confusing to both we, the audience, and Tom. It seems to be a crime being committed against a woman, who also appears to Tom in another freaky vision. Tom may seem crazy, with eventual instructions by his visions to dig, causing him to take the instruction to heart, but his son also experiences visions, maybe even stronger than his father.

    Tom: I'm supposed to dig.

    A quick observation about ghost stories. When its a serious type horror film, ghosts tend to communicate in annoyingly cryptic messages, instead of outright telling you what the problem/situation is. When its a more light-hearted comedic film, ghosts will not only tell you what's going on, but basically hang out with you and provide comic relief. Writer/director David Koepp, better known for scripting some Spielberg blockbusters like Jurassic Park as well as Spider-Man, has directed both types of ghost stories. Ghost Town with Ricky Gervais was one, and this is the other. In these serious films, it doesn't help that all the familiar beats are hit, but the point I'm getting at here, is that this film is made well enough that the standard developments aren't as much of a problem.

    Bacon is very good in this film. His portrayal of average Joe getting visions and becoming obsessed is handled very well. The son also does a good job. I really enjoyed the wife Maggie, played by Kathryn Erbe, as well. Maggie doesn't just sit back and worry, there are some fun elements that she brings to the character that fit quite well.

    The film stumbles a bit when the convenience of a helpful character arriving occurs, as well as some of the turns in the last act, but for the most part, this is a very solid film, that does a good job of accomplishing what it has set out to do.

    Tom Witzky: I never wanted to be famous. I just never expected to be so...
    Maggie Witzky: What?
    Tom Witzky: I don't know, ordinary.
  • mrpopcorn
    July 11, 2009
    mrpopcorn
    "Some doors weren't meant to be opened."

    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.

    REVIEW
    ...( read more)>
    On the heels of the great "Sixth Sense" comes this second kid-who-talks-to-ghosts movie. In this one, the father can also communicate with spirits, as he discovers (to his horror) after being hypnotized at a neighborhood beer-guzzling party. Kevin Bacon plays the father in one of his best performances yet, sympathetically portraying a young blue collar worker who is horrified not just by ghosts, but by the way his life is sinking into depressing ordinariness. The horror plot is developed a bit too slowly for a thriller, but it has some strong moments, and the denouement is thoroughly satisfying, even if it lacks the jaw-dropping climax of "Sixth Sense." The atmosphere and day-to-day details of the working class Chicago neighborhood are very well captured, especially for a genre movie.
  • Redlats
    May 10, 2009
    Redlats
    Why are there so many movies where the characters can see ghosts? The movie is pretty good. Kevin Bacon plays the dad who is haunted by the ghost he sees. When she asks him to dig, he doggedly digs everything he can in the yard and house. I enjoyed the performances of all the...( read more) major characters - the father, mother and 5 yr old son.
  • puffchunk
    November 13, 2008
    puffchunk
    I have a soft spot for Kevin Bacon, so I give it 3 stars. It starts out interesting with the hypnosis thing, then by the end of the film it is just another "ghost trying to tell you who killed it" story.
  • MidnightMadwoman
    October 30, 2008
    MidnightMadwoman
    Among ghost stories, this one is really something special. The most striking I think it how unspecial (and thus realistic) all the characters and settings seem to be. This is one of those movies that gave me the impression that I was watching a bunch of my friends (or, given the ...( read more)age difference, my parents' friends) going about thier daily lives. That element makes it all the creepier when spooky stuff starts happening around them. This movie has that and more going for it, least of all its technical flair. I do believe that this was one of the first (if not THE first) film to use the jerky-slow motion ghost photography that went on to explode in Japanese horror. I think this film would even work for people who don't necesarily like horror. Again, this film is really special.
  • ythelastman89
    November 18, 2009
    ythelastman89
    A really great movie that sort've gets forgotten due to other's like The Ring, Sixth Sense, etc. It's a great story and actually scary, not many horrors have that combination. Kevin Bacon is what makes this movie above average, his total commitment to the role is amazing. He even...( read more) got the Chicago accent down 100%. I like that it has a strange family quality to it that you don't get in many horrors, almost like Poltergeist where you see the family functioning before everything gets crazy. Overall, it's well written, directed and acted.
  • seanattle74
    November 12, 2009
    seanattle74
    One of the best films I saw in 1999.
  • CocoCoopah
    November 3, 2009
    CocoCoopah
    Pretty good considering Kevin 'Gag' Bacon starred in it!
  • deadlynightshade87
    October 28, 2009
    deadlynightshade87
    This was all right. It wasn't fabulous. It wasn't trash. It was predictable and kind of slow. Not my favorite. And not too much to say about it either.
  • ladyinred083155
    October 24, 2009
    ladyinred083155
    Liked the change in Kevin's acting. I enjoy a thriller.

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Critic Reviews

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Kevin Bacon stars in one of his best performances! full review

View more Stir of Echoes reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • beautifultiger
    December 21, 2007
    beautifultiger
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCBsZuB14qs

    Stir of Echoes 1 to 6

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnmMXDwp5lE
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCdA3Zy1UnM
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N16nRHynbVk
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOVoVzkbkj4
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSqYsvKrJIg
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rBc7en2h7k
  • MrGrimlock
    June 23, 2007
    MrGrimlock
    great movie Richard Matheson is one of my favorite writers
  • yeldarb68
    June 16, 2007
    yeldarb68
    Very good movie.
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Stir of Echoes Trivia

  • In this movie, Kevin Bacon is hypnotized and it results in experiences with the paranormal.  Answer »
  • What Kevin Bacon movie involves a man who begins seeing haunting visions of a girl's ghost after being hypnotized by his sister in law.  Answer »
  • Which actor has starred in all these films: Footloose, The River Wild, Trapped, Stir of Echoes, and The Woodsman?   Answer »
  • In the movie Stir of Echoes, what word is on the screen when Kevin Bacon is hypnotized the second time  Answer »
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