Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming

Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming

Year: 2007

Runtime: 89 mins

Language: English

Director: Ernie Barbarash

HorrorThriller

This time, the door cannot be locked. A soldier returns home from the Iraq war only to be haunted by visions of the dead.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming (2007)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming (2007). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

early 2000s (Iraq War era)

The events unfold in the Iraq War era, with deployment overseas and a quick return home two weeks after the accident. The early 2000s context shapes the political and personal pressures that push Ted toward confronting past actions. The narrative threads through the immediate aftermath of violence, PTSD symptoms, and a haunting that seeks closure.

Location

Iraq, Chicago

Set between a war-torn Iraq checkpoint and a quiet Chicago home, the film follows Ted's dual worlds. In Iraq, a fatal checkpoint incident shatters a family and haunts him long after he returns. Back in Chicago, the domestic life with his wife Molly and son Max is eroded by memory, visions, and the search for truth.

🪖 War zone 🏙️ City life

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:40

Main Characters – Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming (2007)

Meet the key characters of Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming (2007), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Ted Cogan (Rob Lowe)

National Guard captain and veteran of the Iraq checkpoint incident who returns to Chicago haunted by guilt and vivid visions. His struggle with PTSD strains his marriage and his ability to protect his family as he searches for meaning and accountability.

🪖 Military duty 💔 Personal trauma 🧠 Guilt ⚖️ Accountability

Sammi (Tatiana Maslany)

Max's girlfriend, part of a group that grows xenophobic after the Iraq incident. She is reckless and outspoken, contributing to the tense dynamic with Farzan and the local community.

🎯 Rebellious youth 🗽 Xenophobia ⚡ Recklessness

Luke (Shawn Roberts)

Max's friend who, along with Sammi, becomes swept up in the volatile reaction to the war and the accident, dying in the car crash that traumatizes the group.

🧭 Teen friendship ⚡ Youth violence 🕯️ Loss

Max Cogan (Ben Lewis)

Ted and Molly's teenage son who grapples with anger, loss, and the impact of his father's trauma on his own life and beliefs.

🧒 Teenager 😡 Anger 🕊️ Loss

Molly Cogan (Marnie McPhail)

Ted's wife, trying to hold their family together while dealing with the consequences of Ted's actions and the strain of the trauma that surrounds them.

👩 Wife 💛 Family love 🌧️ Grief

Farzan (Vik Sahay)

The Arab-American college student whose spirit haunts Ted, seeking justice for his unproved murder and pushing the living to uncover the truth behind the violence.

👤 Identity 🔎 Justice 👻 Supernatural influence

Iraqi Girl (Cristine Prosperi)

An Iraqi girl who dies in the van and emerges in visions; her memory triggers the search for accountability and the recognition of innocence amid war.

👧 Innocence 💔 War casualties 🕊️ Peace

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:40

Major Themes – Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming (2007)

Explore the central themes of Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming (2007), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧠 Trauma

Ted's experiences in Iraq leave him with post-traumatic stress and a heavy burden of guilt for the deaths he witnessed. The film follows his flashbacks, intrusive visions, and the strain these memories place on his family life. Trauma is treated as both a psychological wound and a catalyst for the haunting that drives the plot.

👻 Haunting

A burned man and the spirit of Farzan haunt Ted, forcing him to confront unresolved violence. The visions complicate his grip on reality and push him to uncover the truth behind the deaths. The supernatural element acts as a mechanism to reveal moral accountability and seek closure.

🕊️ Consequences

The trauma and violence ripple through Ted's family, especially his son Max and wife Molly, altering their relationships and trust. The deaths generate anger, xenophobia, and fear among Max's peers, while the grown-ups struggle with forgiveness and responsibility. The ending suggests healing comes through confession, acceptance, and moving on, even as grief remains.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:40

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Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming Summary

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Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming Summary

Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming Timeline

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Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming Timeline

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