THE SIXTH SENSE & STIR OF ECHOES: GHOST SUMMER OF 1999

THE SIXTH SENSE (1999) d. M. Night Shyamalan (USA)
STIR OF ECHOES (1999) d. David Koepp (USA)

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With scores of classic ghost movies populating the silver screen, video shelves, and streaming queues, it's still a pleasant surprise to have two noteworthy examples arriving the same year. That’s exactly what happened in 1999 when M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense and David Koepp's Stir of Echoes hit theaters within a month of each other.

For his third feature effort, writer/director Shyamalan decided to tackle one of the oldest antagonists in the history of horror, but with a twist. And what a twist it was. However, the film would not have gone on to become one of the highest grossing titles of the year, as well as securing six Oscar nominations, had it simply been a clever gotcha ending.

The excellent performances by Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, and breakout star Haley Joel Osment elevated it beyond being a mere fright flick – it became a genuine cinematic event. The Sixth Sense is that rare beast that changes from one viewing to the next, with Shyamalan’s subtle shadings and stylings informing the deeply emotional story.

As a result, it was no surprise that writer/director David Koepp’s adaptation of Richard Matheson’s 1958 novel, Stir of Echoes, was seen as an also-ran in the celluloid spirit sweepstakes. Kevin Bacon plays Tom, a blue-collar Chicagoan for whom a post-hypnotic party trick leads to visions of a tragically murdered child crying out for justice from beyond the grave.

As Tom grows more unhinged and his family grows more concerned for his sanity, it is strongly implied that Bacon’s son also has the gift (or curse) of communicating with the other side.

Tonight, 25 years later, AC and his awesome panel of guests (Matthew Amador, Mark Easteadt, Brett Neveu, Tyler Pistorius, Jill Van Voorst) re-examine these two spooky standouts, and discuss their similarities, their differences, and their legacies over the past quarter-century.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVyuYQPbqfs

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