Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming

During the invasion of Iraq, the National Guard Commander Ted Cogan (Rob Lowe) 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 (Zachary Bennett), who tells him to find out what the spirit demands from him. When his son Max (Ben Lewis) is severely wounded in a car crash where his girlfriend Sammi (Tatiana Maslany) and their friend Luke (Shawn Roberts) die, Ted discovers the wish of justice of the tormented soul and he tries to do the right thing.

The ghost story "Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming" is a surprisingly good and dramatic tale of prejudice and justice. Rob Lowe gives a solid performance in the role of a man that feels the effects of a senseless invasion, earning a medal but no financial or medical support in his homecoming, living with the remorse for a wrong order in a moment of stress in a foreign and hostile country. The bigotry of his neighbors upsets him until his final discovery of the despicable act of his son and his friends. This supernatural story is certainly polemic for many, but I liked it, specially the unexpected twist with the true reason for the spirit's revenge. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Ecos do Além 2" ("Echoes from Beyond 2")

Film producers continue to criticize the Veteran's Administration but only a scant few have come up short. I live in Wisconsin. We have a clinic in Appleton, which is outstanding. There are no wait times, the doctors, nurses, therapists and staff are all very professional. They offer classes for pain management and other issues, even though the veterans may have not had military-related health issues. I get a vision check-up annually and if I need new glasses, they are free, as is everything else except medications, which are nominal. If I need more acute care, I go to the oldest and best VA hospital in the country, in Milwaukee, by van, 100 miles away at no charge and the drivers are volunteers. We also have a VA hospital and long-term facility in Tomah, Wisconsin, which is splendid. It has a golf course, fishing pond and a gym that outdoes Vic Tanny, along with a basketball court with hardwood floors and glass backboards.

Not all VA's are the same. They are independently operated and I'm lucky to be in a state with the best of the best. I'll take the cold weather v Phoenix.

As for the film - who cares? It's beneath Rob Lowe's qualifications as an actor. I turned it off when the VA turned him down.

They had a Perfect set up for the sequel with the kid and they go and make this. I like Rob Lowe to but damn this looks like trash

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!

US soldier returns home Iraq but is haunted and not just by the wartime chaos he encountered.

Writer director Ernie Barbarash delivers an above average straight to DVD cash-in follow up to the original Stir of Echoes which was a hit for Lionsgate Home Entertainment. The sets ups and jump scares are effective, even if somewhat familiar. The sound and Norman Orenstein's music cues becomes repetitive. Mitchell Lackie's editing along with the digital effects are a little distracting at times rather than enhancing. That's said, there's some effective FX makeup moments.

Rob Lowe as Ted does a solid job with the thin script which heavy handedly tackles PTSD and the horror of war as Barbarash's offering mimics the original. It ties to the first film with the inclusion of Jake Witzky even if his age is questionable. However, it may have fared better as a stand alone with a different title. While the cinematography is good it lacks the eerie quality and punchy twist that made the first one so effective.

Overall, like so many DTV sequels, it doesn't hold a candle to its predecessor, but it's worth watching for Lowe and some familiar cast faces.