STIR OF ECHOES is a classic ghost story based on a novel by the late, great Richard Matheson. It stars Kevin Bacon as a sceptic who undergoes hypnosis and soon finds himself suffering extreme flashbacks and visions of a ghostly girl with vengeance on her mind. The story has been done to death by Hollywood recently - this came out the same year as THE SIXTH SENSE, which helped popularise the ghost story genre once again - but this film works, possessing a finesse and level of quality usually missing in the genre.

The good things about STIR OF ECHOES are the reliance on good, old-fashioned storytelling over blood and guts and jump scares. It's a slow-burner of a movie and writer/director David Koepp allows the suspense to generate naturally. Most of these films have a disappointing back story when it finally gets revealed but that's not the case here - the narrative remains gripping throughout. And when it does descend into cliché at the climax, you can forgive it for the quality that's come before.

Kevin Bacon is one of those underrated actors that Hollywood doesn't really know what to do with, and he's rarely given the chance to shine. Yet when he does he burns up the screen with an energy like no other, and he's on top form as the mild-mannered husband and father who finds himself channelling a kind of supernatural vengeance. His mania is both convincing and frightening. Kathryn Erbe is also very strong as his put-upon wife, and child actor Zachary David Cope is excellent in a creepy kid role. STIR OF ECHOES is a lovely surprise, a modern twist on the ghost story that feels fresh and exciting despite its familiarity.

Tom Witzky (Kevin Bacon) is a Chicago blue collar lineman concerned that his wife Maggie (Kathryn Erbe) is pregnant. They have a son name Jake. Her sassy sister Lisa (Illeana Douglas) hypnotizes him at a party and he starts having visions of vanished neighborhood girl Samantha Kozac (Jennifer Morrison). They get Samantha's sister Debbie Kozac (Liza Weil) as babysitter to Jake. When Jake tells her about visions of Samantha, she tries to take him to her mother. Tom becomes obsessed with Samantha's disappearance.

There is great creepiness and moodiness. Kevin Bacon's performance is brilliant. His obsessive turn is amazing. The dark creepiness is perfect for the supernatural story. It brings out the darkness in a very everyday neighborhood. It's a great ghost story.

I found this Blu-ray in the Walmart $5.00 bin. 5 year old Jake (Zachary David Cope) has "the shining" as a phrase one might borrow from another film. In this one he has "the eye." At a party his skeptical dad, Tom (Kevin Bacon) is hypnotized by his sister-in-law (Illeana Douglas) and acquires the gift. Together they see and and talk to a ghost that mom (Kathryn Erbe) doesn't see.

The film builds character and the plot nicely. By the subway scene, I couldn't help about thinking about how much this movie reminded me of something Steven King might do. Bacon starts out as a rather non-convincing blue collar worker, but later when the weird starts, he fits the role perfectly. A good supernatural thriller mystery, one that drops clues. A little on the cliche side, but I didn't mind as it was done well.

Parental guide: F-bomb, brief sex and nudity (Kathryn Erbe)