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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.

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.

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!

Stir of Echoes 2: Homecoming (2007) is a movie I recently watched on Tubi. The storyline follows a soldier transitioning home from the war to a house filled with ghosts he brought back with him from the war as well as ghosts in the actual house. What could go wrong?

This movie is directed by Ernie Barbarash (Cube Zero) and stars Rob Lowe (The Outsiders), Marnie McPhail (Star Trek: First Encounter), Jason Mercury (Catalyst), Ben Lewis (Arrow), Tatiana Maslany (She-Hulk) and Katya Gardner (The X-Files).

The opening for this movie is very entertaining with a gruesome war scene; after that, the movie feels made for television. Maybe that's where all the budget went (and to Rob Lowe). The ghosts weren't as intense as they intended. The background music was a bit cliche and the depiction of certain characters was over the top.

Overall this is an awful sequel to a worthwhile Stir of Echoes. I would score this a 3/10 and recommend skipping it.

The first Stir of Echoes is IMO the most underrated horror film ever. Had it not came out at the same time as The Sixth Sense maybe it would have done better, but sometimes the little known gems are the best. Heard about the sequel a while back ago, and was kinda excited. Disappointed when I heard it wasn't getting a theatrical release, but I have come to find out that these little know gems do get released STD.

Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling this movie. First of all, is it just me or did it seem very fast paced? I like fast paced, but not to fast that it feels like the movie is just an hour long or shorter. And the creepiness of the first movie was certainly missing here. And wow, what a downgrade music wise. From the classic Rolling Stones song "Paint it Black" (albeit it was a cover version, but I like any version of that song) to some rap song? I know that song kinda had to do with what was happening, but rap? Bleh! And the twist wasn't quite too shocking that it had me going "no way!"

And this just did not feel at all like a Stir of Echoes sequel at all to me. OK, we had Jake from the first movie all grown up. How long ago were the events of the first movie? Or are we still at war 20 or 30 years in the future (man I hope not)? And why no mention of his dad? But at least they brought back the OJ drinking.

Overall, it wasn't a bad movie, but many miles away from the underrated first.