Stir of Echoes

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Cast & Crew

Kevin Bacon
Tom Witzky

Kathryn Erbe
Maggie Witzky

Illeana Douglas
Lisa

Liza Weil
Debbie Kozac, the Babysitter

Kevin Dunn
Frank McCarthy

Conor O'Farrell
Harry Damon

Jennifer Morrison
Samantha Kozac (as Jenny Morrison)

Zachary David Cope
Jake Witzky

Lisa Lewis
Mrs. Kozac, Debbie's Mother

Eddie Bo Smith Jr.
Neil the Cop

Actor Strus
Sheila McCarthy

Stephen Walker
Bobby

Mary Kay Cook
Vanessa

Larry Neumann
Lenny

David Koepp
Director

Richard Matheson
Writer

David Koepp
Screenwriter

Judy Hofflund
Producer

Gavin Polone
Producer

Michele Weisler
Executive Producer

James Newton Howard
Original Music

Fred Murphy
Cinematographer

Jill Savitt
Film Editing

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Audience Reviews for Stir of Echoes

• Mar 25, 2013

  this film unfortunately suffered a quick death at the box office thanks in part to the sixth sense. its a shame because this is actually a well made and impressive film. its shares some of the same story points but thats where the similarities end. kevin bacon leads the film who is just an ordinary guy who is trying to keep he's wife and child happy. Kathryn Erbe is great in support playing the wife caught in the middle of both her son & husband who are both battling visions and contact from the dead. Bacon alone establishes a character flawed and passionate to keep pushing to resolve the visions if it means isolating himself from both he's family and work. He keeps this film from being anything less then ordinary. David Koepp has written some of the best films but this adaption of Richard Matheson's works is a hidden gem. He cast Bacon who is brilliant and provoking in the lead and gives the film a strong atmospheric style. The cinema hypnotic scene is a marvel to watch and proof the director has an eye for more then just typing words. the story just oozes interest and once the door is open we are on a collison course with an ending. The strengths of the film are in its strong characters and support characters. You actually understand kevin bacons character and once that first vision occurs you understand he's shock and the limits he will go to understand what has happened to this girl. I rarely sing praise but I enjoyed this film and often show people the film because the sixth sense quite honestly was the better film of the two. They are both different and its Kevin Bacon who keeps this from being a typical twist ridden borefest. I recommend this film highly and will continue to increase its viewership
  Brendan N Super Reviewer
• Dec 19, 2012

  This supernatural thriller from David Koepp concerns Tom Witzky- a typical working class resident of Chicago just trying to live a decent life with his wife and young son. When it comes to the supernatural, Tom is a skeptic, but agrees to play along when some friends want to engage in what should be some harmless hypnotizing. Not long after this supposed bit of fun, Tom begins to feel the presence of evil, and see the spirit of a deceased girl who had disappeared earlier. This latter part sees him become determined to discover the truth about the girl, hopefully bringing her closure and allowing him to return to life the way he was used to. This is based on work by Richard Matheson,and, though I'm not familiar with the source material, I really dug this when looking at it on its own terms. There's a nice, spooky atmosphere, a good sense of dread and mystery, and some decent performances. Kevin Bacon is good in the lead, Kathryn Erbe is okay as his wife (and I will admit that I didn't mind her brief nude scene), and I liked Illeana Douglas as the woman who gets it all started. Give this one a look. It's a well made, moody, and entertaining thrill ride.
  Chris W Super Reviewer
• Nov 17, 2012

  The supernatural thriller Stir of Echoes is an intense and well-crafted film full of suspense. The story follows Tom Witzky who, after having been hypnotized, becomes obsessed when he glimpses a ghost that's staking him. Kevin Bacon, Kathryn Erbe, and Jennifer Morrison lead the cast and give strong performances. Bacon is especially good in this role, and gives a captivating portrayal of a decent into madness. Additionally, the film does an excellent job at building intrigue and crafting disturbing imagery. Haunting and chilling, Stir of Echoes is an impressive film with a compelling mystery.
  Dann M Super Reviewer
• Jul 12, 2012

  Any time a ghost story film involves someone who sees dead people the benchmark Sixth Sense always seems to enter the conversation. In Stir of Echoes you have an earnest film that is more psychological than scary, yet kept afloat by a finely tuned script and some well grounded acting. The film does a very good job of setting the time and place - creating a mood of regular people living regular lives until something extraordinary occurs. The script fleshes out the characters, and not just of the main leads but of some of the supporting characters as well - to the point you think you KNOW these people. Kevin Bacon is in the lead, and he's just fine, but it is in the interplay between the two sisters, Bacon's wife and sis- in law, that are the glue that make this yeast rise. Katheryn Erbe as Bacon's wife and especially Illeana Douglas as sis-in-law bring humanity and reality to their rolls - totally believable as just regular folk. I'm not going to go too much into the ghost story as I don't want to give anything away; but of course, as I mentioned earlier, there will always be a comparison to Sixth Sense, which is a shame, for while holding some of the same elements, this wasn't meant to be a copycat. The cinematography works very well throughout the film, especially the more surreal moments. The "under hypnosis" scene is wonderfully thought out and quite a joy to behold. Really about the only thing holding this film back is the final act where things become just a bit too convenient and conventional, which is unfortunate as the build up and mystery are quite interesting. It's not that the climax is over the top hokum, but rather that it deals with human reactions that play false given the realism (an interesting term considering that this is a ghost story) that has gone on before. I will mention that the film has a coda, and while not the revelation of Sixth Sense, it is rather haunting in its own right. And finally, as the credits role there's a very cool song by Poe that nicely ties in the entire screenplay. A not perfect film, but surely a cut above the usual ghost story type genre.
  paul s Super Reviewer

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