Summary
- Bacon believes that The Sixth Sense’s huge success overshadowed Stir of Echoes despite their thematic similarities.
- Both movies feature child characters who see dead people, explore themes of life, death, love, and family.
- Bacon feels that Stir of Echoes is grounded while The Sixth Sense is more otherworldly and paranormal, making them unique when viewed together.
When I think of a terrifying supernatural horror movie, my mind goes to the 1999 release The Sixth Sense, and I’m likely not the only one. The scenes featuring ghosts are some of the most stomach-churning and bone-chilling in the genre, and that remains true, even though more than 20 years have passed since the film was put out in theaters. There’s another movie that is a lot like The Sixth Sense, and that’s the Kevin Bacon film Stir of Echoes.
Although some should be ignored now and left in the past, many 1990s horror movies are just as good today. That includes both The Sixth Sense and Stir of Echoes, two movies that tell paranormal stories and were released around the same time. Bacon recently gave a compelling interview where he addressed this situation, and I think that both movies should be watched together.
Related
I Think This Upcoming Prime Video Horror Series Has A Fresh Take On A Slasher Story
I love the sound of this Amazon Prime Video series that was recently announced, and here’s why I think it sounds like a unique spin on a slasher.
Why I Think The Sixth Sense And Stir Of Echoes Should Be Viewed As Companion Pieces
In an interview with Variety to talk about Stir of Echoes‘s 25th anniversary, Kevin Bacon and director David Koepp talked about how the amazing success of The Sixth Sense affected their horror movie. Bacon said that both he and Koepp wanted Stir of Echoes to be released in theaters before The Sixth Sense. But that didn’t happen and The Sixth Sense became a box office hit and a critical darling. The Sixth Sense was released in theaters on August 9th, 1999 and Stir of Echoes came out on September 10th, 1999. Since there was only around one month between the two releases, I can definitely see how that became a problem.
Bacon said:
“But the problem for us was that ‘The Sixth Sense’ was such a phenomenon because people went multiple times. It had, really, a terrible effect on ‘Stir of Echoes.'”
Bacon added about the title of his movie:
“I also know, out of respect to Matheson, I think that they really wanted to hold on to the title, but it’s not a title that really rolls off your tongue. People to this day will say, ‘Oh, I loved your movie, ‘Stirring the…’ what was it? So I don’t think that really helped.”
I love the title Stir of Echoes because it feels as compelling and mysterious as The Sixth Sense. I also think the two movies can be viewed together since they work so well together thematically.
Both movies are about child characters who see dead people and main characters who are examining life, death, love, grief, and family. Bacon plays working class dad and husband Tom Witzky in Stir of Echoes, a man whose son Jake (Zachary David Cope) can hear spirits. This amazing gift leads Tom to investigate the disappearance of a teenage neighbor named Samantha Kozac (Jennifer Morrison). While Bruce Willis is known for many sci-fi movies, The Sixth Sense is one of his most famous and iconic films since he did such an impressive job portraying a therapist who befriends a psychic child, played by a young and talented Haley Joel Osment who is now starring in Wednesday season 2.
Both movies also have some genuinely terrifying scenes. In Stir of Echoes, Tom has a nightmare that his teeth have been pulled out. And, of course, no one can forget Mischa Barton’s child character vomiting in The Sixth Sense. Although the latter is far from an underrated horror movie since it’s one of the most talked about in the genre, it packs a scary and emotional punch and deserves every bit of its accolades and praise.
Stir of Echoes and The Sixth Sense also work together since one is more realistic than the other. Bacon, who is making a new film called Family Movie, said Stir of Echoes feels “grounded” in his interview with Variety, and I agree with that. The Sixth Sense feels much more otherworldly and paranormal than Bacon’s film since Tom’s family and professional lives are fleshed out. It’s fun to watch them one after the other and see that they are both unique, creative, and impressive.
What Else Did Stir Of Echoes Star Kevin Bacon Say About The Sixth Sense?
Kevin Bacon has talked about how popular The Sixth Sense was before and how this impacted Stir of Echoes. In 2017, he and Koepp were interviewed by Entertainment Weekly and Bacon praised the other ghost movie that was released in the late 1990s. He said:
“Overshadowed is 100 percent an understatement. Listen,
The Sixth Sense
would have been a hit regardless of when
Stir of Echoes
came out.
The Sixth Sense
is a fantastic movie, there’s nothing that could’ve happened that would’ve gotten in its way.”
I would argue that both The Sixth Sense and Stir of Echoes are some of the most well-crafted movies released in the 1990s. Horror fans who haven’t seen Bacon’s film should definitely check it out. They won’t be disappointed.
More
I Think Christopher Landon’s Next Movie Could Be His Best One Yet
Christopher Landon has written and directed some of the funniest and most compelling horror movies in recent years, and I can’t wait for his new one.