Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming (2007)

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

National Guard Ted Cogan sees a van speeding up toward his watch ignoring the warning plates. He orders to fire, but discovers that there was an Iraqi family in the van. He tries to save a young girl, but the vehicle explodes and his group are attacked.When Ted recovers from his injuries, he returns home to his family, but he is haunted by the death of the innocent family, and another spectre.When his son Max is severely wounded in a car crash where his girlfriend Sammi and their friend Luke die, Ted discovers who the tormented soul is and tries to do the right thing.........Like many of the straight to DVD sequels that no one asked for in the early noughties, Stir Of Echoes 2 just rehashes all the best bits of the original, and just adds a different story around those key sequences. And don't forget to add a star who was, or was going to be quite big once.It's surprising to see Rob Lowe in something like this, he is a wonderful actor, but I'm guessing the smarmy yuppie type roles dried up after Bad Influence, and a certain home made movie.But it's pretty watchable stuff the rationale behind as to why the ghoul is haunting him is quite intelligent, but the same couldn't be said for the very strange and totally bonkers ending.It's not particularly scary, but as direct to DVD sequels to films you never thought would get one in a million years, this is perfectly perfunctory.

There is just no way that a Made for TV Movie is going to be anything approaching the underrated and ignored Original. Stir of Echoes (1999) was a Fantastic Film. This one though, is an above average TV Movie that is OK in its own right if comparisons to the first Film are ignored.Rob Lowe gives an acceptable outing as the afflicted Iraq War Vet that has PTSD by way of Hell, not the War. He struggles to find the meaning of it all and He is Haunted and Tormented by things from Beyond. It does have a heavy Political message and for better or worse it is what it is.The Ending may have some question marks but it is wrapped up with a finale that is not squeamish or condescending. There are some Chills and the Tone of the thing is just about right. It rises above most Basic Cable Stuff but is restrained by those Limitations from attaining anything of significance.

I was never really sure why people didn't like this move as much as the first. I was really impressed with the way this film was made. the plot is very similar to the first and just as entertaining. Another thing that I should mention is that this sequel is much scarier and creepier than the first one. The ending was not the best of the best but it was acceptable for the situation. The acting was just fantastic and most of the scenes were played out very well and quite believable. When the movie was over I almost immediately wanted to see it again. Not much to dislike about this sequel, unless you're not a big fan of tragic endings, but overall a very good sequel and great way to get some good scares.

The first Stir of Echoes is IMO the most underrated horror film ever. Had it not came out at the same time as The Sixth Sense maybe it would have done better, but sometimes the little known gems are the best. Heard about the sequel a while back ago, and was kinda excited. Disappointed when I heard it wasn't getting a theatrical release, but I have come to find out that these little know gems do get released STD.Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling this movie. First of all, is it just me or did it seem very fast paced? I like fast paced, but not to fast that it feels like the movie is just an hour long or shorter. And the creepiness of the first movie was certainly missing here. And wow, what a downgrade music wise. From the classic Rolling Stones song "Paint it Black" (albeit it was a cover version, but I like any version of that song) to some rap song? I know that song kinda had to do with what was happening, but rap? Bleh! And the twist wasn't quite too shocking that it had me going "no way!"And this just did not feel at all like a Stir of Echoes sequel at all to me. OK, we had Jake from the first movie all grown up. How long ago were the events of the first movie? Or are we still at war 20 or 30 years in the future (man I hope not)? And why no mention of his dad? But at least they brought back the OJ drinking.Overall, it wasn't a bad movie, but many miles away from the underrated first.