The Echo (2008)
Studio: Image Ent.
Release Date: November 10, 2009
Directed By: Yam Laranas
Cast: Jesse Bradford, Jamie Bloch, Carlos Leon, Amelia Warner & Iza Calzado
Reviewed By: Annie Riordan

Having finished up a stint at Riker’s Island for involuntary manslaughter, Bobby returns to his mother’s apartment in the East Village, hoping to start his life over. Sadly, his mother passed away while he was still in the joint, having met a gruesome end at the hands of mental illness: she apparently locked herself inside of her home and starved to death.

Bobby soon finds work at a local garage and looks up his old girlfriend, Alyssa, who works as a waitress at a greasy spoon. Alyssa is less than enthusiastic about rekindling their romance, hurt by his failure to keep in touch with her during his incarceration. Upon learning about halfway through the film that the man Bobby murdered had attempted to violently rape Alyssa in a public restroom, she quickly becomes the least sympathetic character in the movie.

But Bobby has bigger problems than just an ungrateful ex-girlfriend. His new boss is dubious about Bobby’s past. His old friends don’t want anything to do with a convicted killer. And his new next door neighbors seem to have the same argument every night. After hearing the sounds of physical abuse through his tissue thin walls, Bobby attempts to intervene, prompting a visit from the brutish husband who warns Bobby to “mind his own business.” But Bobby just can’t, especially when he discovers the couple’s small daughter, covered in bruises, standing shocked and scared in the hall during one particularly nasty fight. Bobby calls the cops, who dutifully investigate…only to learn that the apartment next to Bobby’s is empty, and has been for years.

Now, anyone who visits Bobby’s floor is infected by a Grudge-like haunting (except for the landlord, which is one of the film’s few glaring errors), stalked by eerie noises and distorted specters who are more than willing to lead their victims to their untimely demises. Bobby must find out what happened next door before everyone he cares about is killed by the vengeful ghosts.

The Echo is a remake of the 2004 Filipino flick Sigaw, which I have not seen, but which is now on my Netflix queue. The Echo was just good enough to make me curious about the original which are quite often (but not always) reasonably superior to the remakes, i.e. The Shutter, The Eye and [REC]. Strongly reminiscent of the Grudge films (the 3rd one in particular) The Echo manages to stand on its own rather well, thanks in large part to Jesse Bradford (Romeo + Juliet) whose portryal of Bobby is complex and sincere. He’s a truly repentant creature whose struggle to start over, and subsequent rebuffs, are heartbreaking to experience along with him. Amelia Warner as his unsympathetic ex is pretty, but not very likable – one wishes Bobby would start over in that area as well. And shining in supporting roles are Carlos Leon as Bobby’s honest and straightforward new boss, and cigaretty Jayne Eastwood (Dawn Of The Dead 2004) as Bobby’s employment mediator.

It may not have the most original storyline or the most stupendous budget, but The Echo delivers a solid, straightforward ghost story with just enough eerie noises and spooky sights to make it worth your time.

Brutal As Hell Rating: 3 out of 5 stars