Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming (2007)

A soldier returns home from the Iraq war only to be haunted by visions of the dead.

Director:

Ernie Barbarash

Writer:

Ernie Barbarash

Stars:

Rob Lowe, Marnie McPhail, Ben Lewis

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rob Lowe	...	Ted Cogan
Marnie McPhail	...	Molly Cogan
Ben Lewis	...	Max Cogan
Tatiana Maslany	...	Sammi
Shawn Roberts	...	Luke
Vik Sahay	...	Farzan
Colin Williams	...	Drexel
PJ Lazic	...	Nunez (as P.J. Lazic)
Elias Zarou	...	Iraqi Officer
Nicholas Carella	...	Kablinsky
Cristine Prosperi	...	Iraqi Girl
Jason Mercury	...	Translator
Bill Lake	...	Colonel
Neil Crone	...	Gary
Katya Gardner	...	April

Storyline

During the invasion of Iraq, the National Guard Commander Ted Cogan sees a van speeding up against his site without respecting the warning plates. He orders his men to fire, and later he discovers that in the van there was an Iraqi family. He tries to save a young girl from the fire, but the vehicle explodes and his group is attacked; he enters in coma severely wounded and his friend and neighbor dies. When Ted recovers, he returns home to meet his family, but he is increasingly haunted by ghosts of dead people, premonitions and guilty complex for the death of the innocent family. He seeks medical support but his financial situation does not allow him to pay for a treatment and the government denies helping him. However, one ghost gives the name of Jake Witzky, who tells him to find out what the spirit demands from him. When his son Max is severely wounded in a car crash where his girlfriend Sammi and their friend Luke die, Ted discovers the wish of justice of the tormented soul and ...

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Plot Keywords:

ghost | fire | returning character with different actor | direct to video sequel to theatrical movie | war veteran | 

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Taglines:

This time, the door cannot be locked

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violent content, disturbing images and language

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 August 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Stir of Echoes 2: The Homecoming

Filming Locations:

Stouffville, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lions Gate Entertainment,Stir Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min 97 min (Extended Edition)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The man that Ted (Rob Lowe) goes to see is Jake Witzky about his condition. He is the son of Tom Witzky (Kevin Bacon) from the first Stir of Echoes movie.

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Connections

References Kontora (1987)

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Soundtracks

Street Vibe
Written by Norman Orenstein
Performed by Norman Orenstein
Courtesy of Norman Orenstein Music (SOCAN)

User Reviews

Like most sequels pretty average one

I really liked the first "Stir of echoes" movie and after reading some bashing here I thought I'd also give the second a try because too much praise and bashing indicates that its most of the time way out of line... and once again I was right.

The movie is wrapped around a more up to date story revolving around an Iraq Soldier having to deal with his wrong decisions leading to an Iraqi family's death and his coming home to face demons which soon turn out not to be those you expect. Of course the basic premise from here on is 100% the same as in the first movie. Man has dreams and hallucinations and tries to uncover what they are about. Where in the first part hypnotizing triggered the events here its the war trauma which fits the explanation of the soldier in the first movie (they even picked back up his "X-Ray eyes" line).

I think the movie is decent for a sequel... all the bashing about the acting and effects and bad story are pretty much over the top. But I give you that its at times annoying to watch the same ideas from Part1 recycled in a different environment and that the ending really sucks bad. Where the first part gave some kind of resolution this one doesn't... its real disappointing to have such a clichéd "happy Hollywood ending" (considering the ghosts) and everything else being a mess of storytelling. You can see they went for a drama like the kid in Part1 having to deal with the voices for life but here it just falls apart and pretty much left me cold when the credits rolled.

Anyway I have seen far worse... and what really makes me smile is that I now know why there are such harsh reactions on the movie. There is not much positive left on the American side of glory at the end and it seems that some of the guys here are too damn brainwashed to face that there is also another point of view possible than the anti-Arab U.S. propaganda that is all over the place. Come on guys... comparing this movie to anti-semitic propaganda and Jud Suss is a joke. With hundred percent of the Nazis Jud Suss image stuck to Muslims in dozens of U.S. Blockbusters in best "Der Stuermer" manner. Look at the imagery and compare to Jud Suss and maybe you realize how damn brainwashed you are that you can't even face a movie about the negative sides without complaining. Now that the Russians are not the bad guys, the Muslims are... and as soon as someone depicts holy America as bad its propaganda of course. Get a life and look in the mirror for a difference... and after all its just a movie. If you are angry about it it must have had some kind of impact... and thats much more than most of todays movies even come near to achieve. Time to face your demons!