Whether you’re in the mood to cheer him and his goofy Southern accent on in "Tremors" or dance alongside him in "Footloose," there’s a Kevin Bacon movie for every occasion. He’s been in so many films alongside so many co-stars that there’s even a game named after him, "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon." And in a recent an interview with Yahoo, Bacon himself said he’s not slowing down anytime soon, adding, “The best is yet to come.”
Of all the movies I’ve seen him in — and I’ve seen plenty — one stands above the rest as my all-time favorite: "Stir of Echoes." Released in 1999, it stars Bacon as Tom Witzky, a man who begins to experience terrifying, ghostly visions after a hypnotism session gone wrong. Don’t you just hate it when that happens?
If you’ve never seen this underrated supernatural gem, queue it up for some stellar Bacon acting and a generous dose of spine-tingling suspense.
What is 'Stir of Echoes' about?
The film wastes no time pulling you into its eerie world. After an unsettling screech and a haunting view of Tom’s home, the camera lingers on his young son, Jake (Zachary David Cope), happily splashing in the bathtub. He hums a vague tune and occasionally talks straight into the camera, as though sharing adventures with a friend.
It quickly becomes clear that while Tom tunes his guitar in the background, Jake is talking to someone who isn’t there. When Tom steps away to grab his son’s favorite pajamas, Jake peers into the camera and asks chillingly, “Does it hurt to be dead?” The lens pans out, revealing he’s speaking to empty space.
That unsettling moment sets the tone for the entire film, even when the mood briefly shifts to something lighter as Tom, his wife Maggie (Kathryn Erbe), and her sister Lisa (Illeana Douglas) head across the street to a neighborhood party.
As the night winds down, Lisa entertains the few remaining guests with tales of her hypnotherapy practice, though she admits she’s only “almost licensed.” Tom mocks the idea, taunting her until, a little tipsy, he demands that she hypnotize him.
She obliges, guiding him into a mental image of a black theater. (Sidebar: This is one of those scenes that begs to be seen on the big screen. If you’ve got a projector at home, kill the lights and treat yourself. It’s phenomenal.)
What follows is a rapid montage of strange and frightening images. Tom jolts awake to find the guests staring at him, unnerved. A neighbor, Frank (Kevin Dunn), laughs that it was the freakiest thing he’s ever seen. Tom, rattled and tear-streaked from reliving childhood bullying, leaves the party troubled.
But the hypnosis hasn’t left him. That night, he suffers through vivid nightmares, including one in the bathroom that feels disturbingly real. Soon, he begins seeing visions of a young woman sitting on his couch. The haunting only escalates, culminating in a terrifying moment at a football game where he envisions his son being kidnapped. Though Jake is safe, it becomes clear that both father and son are being haunted by the same ghostly presence, and neither knows what she wants.
Why you should watch 'Stir of Echoes' before it leaves Prime Video
"Stir of Echoes" isn’t just another ghost story. It’s about how the supernatural seeps into the cracks of a family, pulling them apart in ways they never expected. That’s where Kevin Bacon shines; his transformation from laid-back husband to obsessed, unraveling man is magnetic to watch.
Kathryn Erbe grounds the film as Maggie, torn between supporting her husband and protecting their son. She captures the unease of a woman watching her family slip away into something she can’t understand. Meanwhile, Bacon wrestles with visions so intense he can’t distinguish reality from hallucination.
Zachary David Cope also delivers a memorable performance as Jake, the innocent boy burdened with a chilling secret. While he never utters “I see dead people,” his quiet dread says it all. The final reveal of his “gift” (if you can call it that) is deeply unsettling, and it’s a shame this was one of his only film roles, as he clearly had the chops for the genre.
Even if horror isn’t usually your thing, if you’re a Kevin Bacon fan, this movie is a must. It holds up beautifully on rewatch, too, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself coming back to it. Just skip "Stir of Echoes 2"; the sequel never comes close to capturing the eerie magic of the original.
Watch "Stir of Echoes" on Prime Video
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