I’m a bit of a wuss when it comes to what is now considered to be “horror film.” I can’t get into plotless gorefests that exist just to give you gore. I want a story, and I would prefer that the story be a good one.
For the reason stated above, and because I am really into Halloween this year, I’m going to do a series of entries on my favorite movies that I connect with Halloween. The list will vary in genre. In any case, I hope that it gives you something to think about at the very least.
“Stir of Echoes” (1999) was seen by practically no one when it ran in theaters. I only saw it because I worked in a theater at the time and could see it for free. It’s a shame that it still hasn’t found a wider audience. I would say that it’s one of the most wrongfully overlooked horror/suspense films of all time. It’s a rare, thoughtful ghost story, with a plot that is both direct and somewhat complex. I’m going to just give you a brief synopsis here, in the hope that you’ll seek it out for yourself!
Tom Witzky (Kevin Bacon) is a blue-collar father and husband living in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. He thinks nothing of it when his son Jake (Zachary David Cope) talks to himself in the bathtub. But when his sister-in-law Lisa hypnotizes him at a party, strange things start happening to Tom, and Jake may just know something about it. His wife Maggie (Kathryn Erbe) is left to wonder and worry as the two men in her life continue to act stranger and stranger.
David Koepp adapted the screenplay from a story by Richard Matheson (I Am Legend, Somewhere In Time), and also directed this delightful spook story that pays loving tribute to Chicago as its well-woven narrative unwinds. There are some jump moments, and some of the images are a little extreme, but if you’re used to fare like the “Saw” series, you won’t be phased. “Stir of Echoes” is blessedly short – according to my DVD, it runs 94 minutes. Get a copy however you can.
Geek of All Trades 