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Overall Rating : 5.5/10
Directed By : Ernie Barbarash
Rob Lowe (Salem's Lot (2004)
Marnie McPhail (The Greatest Game Ever Played)
Katya Gardner
Zachary Bennet (Jekyll + Hyde)
Supplied By : Lionsgate Films
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : November. 12, 2007
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| PLOT After returning home from a tour of duty in Iraq, horrifying visions disturb Ted Cogan’s new life. He soon realizes that he may have brought back more than just a medal of honor. |
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| THE REVIEW In STIR OF ECHOES 2 : THE HOMECOMING, the story centers around Military soldier Ted Cogan. While serving on the National Guard as Captain in Iraq, Cogan makes a fatal mistake that would follow him wherever he went from that point on. When a van approached his check point, driving erratically, he had no choice but to order his men to fire - as Military rules state if the intruder does not respond to their orders to stop, the soldiers have the authority to fire. The shots fire eventually cause the van to burst into flames, killing all inside, which would turn out to be an Iraqi civilian family. So after being released from the hospital due to his injuries caused by the blast Ted returns home, albeit still shook up from the events, At a time where Ted should be happy to be alive at at home with his family, it's not as he appears to be deeply troubled. He begins to act aggressively towards friends and family, while also having horrific nightmares and visions connected to the accident at the checkpoint - this would lead the ghosts of the victims to haunt him, and seemingly try to send him a message. Ted embarks on an investigation to answer all of the questions that plague him, but the closer and closer he gets to the answers he seeks, he and his family become more and more closer to grave danger. It has been so long since I have seen to original STIR OF ECHOES, that quite honestly I had forgotten about it - so I was even more surprised when this sequel was announced. Like so many sequels these days STIR OF ECHOES 2 : THE HOMECOMING, is without it's lead actor that made the first film what it was(or on rare occurrence, what it wasn't), and is going forward to cash in on the name alone. Essentially all of these new direct-to-video sequels are not technically "sequels" at all, as they don't continue a certain plot - they are more like "re-imaginings" With that said, STIR OF ECHOES 2, can't really be compared or fully associated with it's original. As it's own film, you will be quick to notice that the budget is much smaller this time and not a full scale, epic adventure as was the first film. Another trait taken on by these direct-to-video sequels, is that they always seem to center their stories on current events, basically trying to capitalize on, and exploit them. The core of this story is a man returning from Iraq after mistakenly killing a family of Iraqi civilians - whom we were supposedly sent there to protect - in which Ted failed to do. It goes on further to show us how Ted's actions in Iraq, and the war go on to affect an entire family as the sub plot, while the main plot deals with Ted dealing with his inner-demons. The plot, to put it honestly is really basic, as within 10 minutes we knew what would happen with Ted Cogan, as he returns home - we knew he wouldn't come back alone. This is one of the faults in a majority of these straight-to-video sequels as their plots seem to be very cookie cutter basic and far less inventive or complex than their originals. Besides having a basic plot, I have to say that the mystery played out in STIR OF ECHOES 2 is enjoyable and less predictable than it's setup. Did I think STIR OF ECHOES 2 : THE HOMECOMING would have me very interested? No not really. But I must say that it at least had me wondering how it would all end - thus I couldn't help but watch. The mystery as I said was enjoyable, but I am rather mixed on the ending Towards the end a plot twist is thrown at us, that kind of threw me off, making the plot go down hill a little for me. I won't spoil that twist here, but I thought it to be a more of it's own standalone plot and too drawn out to be just merely a plot twist or element - an entire movie could've been made from the twist in my opinion. As for comparing Kevin Bacon in the original to Rob Lowe in the sequel. Each actor had different mentalities. Kevin Bacon, was the more mentally disturbed/insane of the two, while Lowe was rather calm and conservative, while all the while still showing signs of being troubled. Honestly, I expected to see Rob Lowe a little crazier in this one than he was, but in turn, his approach makes the two STIR OF ECHOES films (although having similar subject matter involving the supernatural), two very different films. Having first aired on the Sci-Fi Channel, STIR OF ECHOES 2 : THE HOMECOMING, is a decent film nonetheless with a few interesting points in it's plot. But then there are often times where it feels like what it is - a direct-to-video sequel. |
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| GORE
METER 2.5/10 Burned corpses, blood splatter, burnt flesh, not very gory as this is more of a Thriller than anything else. |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 3.5/10 Overall, the score is your typical Thriller score, but the film also uses other styles and a Hip Hop song as a theme. |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM STIR OF ECHOES 2 : THE HOMECOMING, is yet another direct-to-video released sequel, that has little to do with it's original film, and basically is it's own entity. As a standalone film, it's decent but nothing too definitive. It's still worth a look if you feel like taking in a decent Thriller. This DVD will be released on November 20, 2007 |
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