Stir of Echoes [Blu-ray]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

In this supernatural thriller, Tom Witzky (Kevin Bacon) is a fairly typical working-class guy living in Chicago with his wife Maggie (Kathryn Erbe) and his son Jake (Zachary David Cope). One night at a party, Tom gets into a lively discussion with his sister-in-law, Lisa (Illeana Douglas), who believes in psychic communication and the power of hypnosis. He challenges Lisa to hypnotize him, and she plants in him a post-hypnotic suggestion to be more open-minded. But the results aren't quite what Lisa or Tom expected; Tom now senses an air of terrible dread throughout his house and is convinced that evil lurks just around the corner. He also sees the spirit of a girl from the neighborhood who disappeared months ago -- and Jake sees the spirit as well. Stir of Echoes was based on a novel by Richard Matheson, whose work inspired such disparate films as Somewhere in Time and The Incredible Shrinking Man; it was written and directed by David Koepp, who wrote the screenplays for Jurassic Park and Mission: Impossible. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Subtitle: Eng/Spa
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Cinemascope)
• Audio: Dolby Digital Surround EX
• Features:
  • 1080p high definition
  • 16x9 widescreen version
  • Dts HD high resolution ES audio
  • 5.1 Dolby digital surround EX audio
  • English and Spanish subtitles
  • Audio commentary with director, David Koepp
  • Sight of Spirits: Channeling the Paranormal
  • Deleted scenes
  • Interactive menus powered by Metamenu technology

AWARDS

• National Board of Review

•     Won Outstanding Indies - 1999

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Kevin Bacon - Tom Witzky
       Kathryn Erbe - Maggie Witzky
       Illeana Douglas - Lisa
       Liza Weil - Debbie Kozac
       Kevin Dunn - Frank McCarthy
       Conor O'Farrell - Harry Damon
       Jenny Morrison - Samantha
       Zachary David Cope - Jake Witzky
       Lisa Lewis - Debbie's Mother
       Eddie Bo Smith, Jr. - Neil The Cop
       Kevin Scott Greer - Bit

• Director:

  David Koepp

• Producer:

  Gavin Polone, Judy Hofflund

• Screenwriter:

  David Koepp

• Book Author:

  Richard Matheson

• Cinematographer:

  Fred Murphy

• Composer (Music Score):

  James Newton Howard

• Editor:

  Jill Savitt

• Production Designer:

  Nelson Coates

• Art Director:

  David W. Krummel

• Executive Producer:

  Michele Weisler

• Set Designer:

  Susie Goulder

• Costume Designer:

  Leesa Evans

• Sound/Sound Designer:

  Daniel J. Richter

• First Assistant Director:

  Carla Corwin

• Casting:

  Mary Colquhoun

• Stunts Coordinator:

  Rick LeFevour

• Sound Recordist:

  Scott D. Smith

• Costume/Wardrobe:

  Gina Marie Ome

REVIEW:

• An effectively creepy thriller by Hollywood scribe David Koepp (who penned the blockbuster Jurassic Park), this film explores hypnotism and delusional horror with an acuteness unusual for a film of its genre. Eschewing gore and fake shock tactics, Koepp uses his material as a means of exploring his main character's psyche. To this end, Kevin Bacon's resourceful portrayal perfectly embodies the archetype of a family man threatening to be done in by his demons. The film's momentum dissipates as it draws nearer to its semi-predictable conclusion, but the engrossing storyline and excellent use of Chicago locations create a tangible world for the tale, and make it easier to relate to on a human level. In an luckless bit of coincidence, The Sixth Sense was released just a few weeks prior to Stir, and the similarly ghoulish ghost story (both involve the use of a young boy as an oracle for otherworldly devices) all but crippled this film's opportunity to reach the moviegoing masses. ~ Jason Clark, Rovi