Hypnose 2

STIR OF ECHOES: THE HOMECOMING is a surprisingly poor horror/thriller which can't hold a candle to the power of the Kevin Bacon original. STIR OF ECHOES was actually a pretty decent late '90s ghost flick that went hand in hand with THE SIXTH SENSE to revitalise the genre at the end of the millennium. This, on the other hand, is a poorly-directed piece of straight-to-DVD nonsense with virtually nothing to recommend it.

A wooden Rob Lowe (THE STAND) stars as an Iraqi war veteran who returns home after witnessing and being responsible for some violent actions in the Middle East. Before long he's haunted by visions of burning bodies and the like and he must get to the bottom of the mystery before it's too late. Unfortunately the mystery, as it transpires, is ridiculous stuff, as is the film's execution: dumb scare scenes, bad CGI, and awful direction from Ernie Barbarash (who has only mildly improved these days in directing Van Damme in the likes of POUND OF FLESH). Future starlet Tatiana Maslany plays in support, but the whole thing's a real mess.

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!

In "Stir Of Echoes", the always watchable Kevin Bacon played a man who began to see restless spirits after being hypnotised at a party and subsequently uncovered a terrible crime. "Stir Of Echoes: The Homecoming" utilises this premise and gives it a twist. Our main character here is U.S Patrol Captain Ted Cogan who is forced to give the order which leads to the death of a family in Iraq. He is also wounded and falls into a coma which - much like the hypnosis from the first movie - turns him into a 'receiver', able to see the ghosts around him.

"Stir Of Echoes: The Homecoming" uses the horror genre to comment on the situation in Iraq and its effect on Americans back home. For example, early in the story we have a party in which one of Cogan's neighbours makes a racist joke which results in laughter from some and an outburst of anger from Cogan. It's an interesting idea but, unfortunately, the script is not quite strong enough to quite carry it off. There's a good idea at work here but the movie comes off as far too preachy in places for its own good.

The horror aspects are well done and very interesting. As the ghosts haunting Cogan become more frustrated and aggressive, their attacks become increasingly more violent. Much like Bacon's character in the first movie, Cogan also experiences various hallucinations related to future events. I certainly can't fault the work of director Ernie Barbarish who manages to stretch a small budget out so the movie looks great.

If I had to point out the areas where this movie fails, the most obvious area is the casting of Rob Lowe as Cogan. It would be hard for any actor to follow Kevin Bacon but Lowe appears to sleepwalk through most of the movie. There are moments when you glimpse him come alive but, for the most part, he seems to be there just to pick up his money which is a shame. The second failing of the movie comes with its conclusion which simply didn't sit right with me at all.

Strangely, Bacon's son from the original "Stir Of Echoes" appears in a cameo role in this movie but has been greatly aged which suggests that the sequel takes place many years later. Although it was a nice way to tie the two movies together, this decision ultimately baffled me.

Despite its flaws, its still a watchable movie. If you enjoyed the first movie, then you might still enjoy "Stir Of Echoes: The Homecoming" if you can forgive its sledgehammer approach to racism and the current situation in Iraq. Unfortunately, if you've seen the first movie then you'll also probably realise where the story is going due to certain similarities in its plot. Is it worth purchasing on DVD? No. Is it worth a rental? Well, if you like supernatural horror movies then there are certainly worse ways to spend an hour and a half.

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.

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.