Stir of Echoes 2: The Homecoming (DVD, 2007)

In 1999, 'Stir of Echoes' hit theaters to decent reviews and a pale box office in the wake of the still powerful 'The Sixth Sense'. Many dismissed 'Echoes' as a copycat, despite the novel being written in the 1950s and the film having began production 6 months before 'The Sixth Sense'. Point being, 'Stir of Echoes' didn't get its due; it was overlooked. And as much as I praise and love such a solid film fighting for it's day in the sun, I was very reluctant to accept an 8 year, after the fact, cash in attempt at franchisehood. After years of warding off this entry, I finally caved and gave it a shot. I was impressed, if only marginally.

While a sequel in the sense of titles and one returning side character played by a different actor, 'The Homecoming' is a fresh start. Rob Lowe plays Ted, a Iraqi War veteran returning home after an accident that cost civilian lives. Consumed in guilt and depression, he almost instantly begins to witness random hauntings and hallucinations. Ted eventually has to figure out a mystery the ghost needs solved to be laid to rest. The plot outline is identical to the original, but it takes the film in a somewhat new direction and tackles more contemporary issues like the Iraq war and troubles soldiers have adapting to normal life. The film never takes a stance politically, and I respected it for that.

The acting is so-so. Rob Lowe does a good job and carries a majority of the film. His sorrow is unseen, but he does portray stoic and silent well. His 'Ted' is introverted, and only rarely displays varied emotions, and that was a good choice as an actor. That or he can't be tearful, but we'll leave that up to the viewer. Locations were well used, and the filming in the suburbs like the first was a superb choice. The feeling that you are constantly surrounded by people in densely populated areas but the terror still lurks; it really adds a dimension to the fear.

For what it is, 'The Homecoming' is a decent effort. Not original, not great, but it should entertain. I give it props for that. And coupled with some good scares and imaginative scene composition I can give this one a recomendation.

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 he tries to do the right thing.

Great movie a little to much fowl language for me but other than that a great film...
{Mrs puman}

A soldier returns home experiencing post war symptoms and feelings of guilt over an accidental fatal shooting of civilians. Haunted by what he believes are the spirits of these people heads him into a dissolution of his marriage and problems with all those around him. Surprising turn of events when the haunting is caused not by his own doing but one of which his own son took the life away. Time to make things right.

We own #1 so we had to had this one to our collection. My girlfriend likes horror shows not me but cause she likes to watch i watch with her.

not abad movie,not an awesom movie,the first one with kevin bacon was awesom,so i thought i would give 2 a chance,well to me rob lowe has always been a little on the cheesy side,its still worth watching