Reel Critics

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Reel Critics column features movie critiques written

by community members serving on our panel.

Bacon’s performance ‘stirs’ the senses

“Stir of Echoes” tells the creepy story of an ordinary man who suddenly

finds himself in a very unordinary world. Fortunately, this ordinary man

is portrayed by the extraordinary Kevin Bacon.

Bacon plays the role of Tom Witzky, a telephone company worker with a

wife and son. He’s a solid family man whose wildest moments consist of

playing a little guitar at local Saturday night gigs.

The film is set in a blue-collar neighborhood of Chicago, a neighborhood

of families who work hard, take care of their children and go to high

school football games on Fridays. On Saturday nights, they gather at

friends’ homes to relax over a few beers.

One one such Saturday night, Tom accepts a dare from his sister-in-law to

undergo hypnosis. Hypnosis, in itself, is probably the weirdest thing Tom

has ever done. Until now.

Somehow, while he is in a state of hypnosis, Tom becomes a “receiver” and

our story begins.

While the plot of “Stir of Echoes” has little to offer that is truly

original, it is very original to Tom Witzky. And it is the process of

watching this solid, feet-on-the-ground man being drawn into a new and

frightening level of reality that propels this story and holds your

attention. The suspense is not so much in finding out what’s going on as

it is in hoping Tom’s tortured mind will survive it.

I came away from the theater feeling I had certainly gotten my money’s

worth.

I also came away with a firm conviction. No one’s ever going to hypnotize

this chick!

* JUNE FENNER, a Costa Mesa resident in her late 50s, is vice president

of a work force training company.

She echoes yes, he echoes no

Gay: I love disturbing, scary thrillers and “Stirs of Echoes” was just

that! Jake (Zachary David Cope), the son of Tom Witzky (Kevin Bacon) and

Maggie (Kathryn Erbe), has a special gift. He sees people and hears

voices that no one else can. He has spoken with a girl who has

disappeared from the neighborhood.

Kevin Bacon, in one of his best performances, portrays a down-to-earth

telephone lineman who is a wannabe musician not at all satisfied with his

mundane life.

In their Chicago neighborhood home, his wife Maggie’s sister Lisa (Illena

Douglas), life of the party with her hypnotism antics, not so easily

persuades Tom into a session with her. Little does he know what Lisa has

done.

Tom begins to have disturbing visions after his hypnotic parley. Now a

ghostly body appears in his home that coincides with his son’s

apparitions. Nightmares, hallucinations and voices from afar all add up

to a potent thriller that just scares you to death. The quick cuts from

scene to scene keep you jumping and charged for what’s next.

Bill: Not sure Gay and I went to the same movie. This flick has zero

redeeming qualities. The best actor in the world given one of the least

powerful stories equals a lousy time at the cinema. Kevin Bacon plays a

strong role, but that digging and digging weakened the already mishmash

intrigue. The characters in the movie seemed insignificant and

indefinable, exhibiting valueless qualities. This movie was not

entertaining for me.

Gay echoes: Yes, yes, yes.

Bill echoes: No, no, no.

* GAY WASSALL-KELLY, 59, is the editor of a Balboa newspaper and is

active in the community. BILL KELLY, 58, is an industrial engineer.