The Echo: Movie Review

We really couldn’t wait to see "The Echo", the Hollywood remake of the 2004 movie, "Sigaw". There are lots of reasons to be excited about it! First, this is the first Filipino horror film remade by a Hollywood outfit. With numerous Hollywood remakes of Asian horror films like "The Grudge" and "Shutter", we are more than happy to know that they finally chose a Filipino movie. Second reason is the original director, Yam Laranas will again be directing this movie. We couldn’t wait to see the changes he’ll be implementing, given that he is now catering to the American audience. However, we know that remakes of Asian horror hits are most of the time movie experiences that are not worth remembering or even mentioning. Can "The Echo" be the exception we have been waiting for a long time? Read more to see our full review.

A recently released ex-convict Bobby (Jesse Bradford) is trying to put back his life together. He does this by getting a job, by staying at his deceased mother's apartment and by trying to rekindle his lost relationship with girlfriend Alyssa (Amelia Warner). Unfortunately for Bobby, he starts hearing strange sounds at his apartment and soon discovers that his neighbor is an abusive husband to his wife and child. When Bobby tries to intervene, he is shocked to find out that his neighbors are not what he expected them to be.

What makes "The Echo" a film worth watching? If you are looking for a fun, scary and well-made horror thriller, then this might be the movie you want to see. This is not your typical Hollywood Asian horror remake trash - putting Yam Laranas at the helm was clearly the best decision for this film. Also props to the top notch audio that made things scarier than it should have been - we recommend you see this in theaters. You could hear every scratch and every chilling whisper that it will just give you goose bumps while watching. The eerie color of the film is also a plus for the movie. Finally, the story was somewhat interesting and made some sense unlike your typical horror film.

As for the acting, Jessie Bradford was good, as well as Iza Calzado despite us hoping that her part was bigger. The starlet who played the role of Alyssa was just too dull and lifeless. They could have rewritten the script without her character and it wouldn’t have made a difference at all. Aside from her acting, we also didn’t like some of the buildup of the scary scenes as some were just too long and unnecessary. There were also scenes wherein the ghosts were out to hunt some people in the apartment, and it might be better if these scenes were edited out. Over all, we liked how the movie turned out. We were satisfied that "The Echo" wasn’t an inferior version of the original movie. This is a relief from all the trashy Hollywood remakes we have all been seeing.

Rating: 3 and a half reels





Why you should watch it:
- not your typical Hollywood remake trash
- will make you quiver and squirm from start to finish
- excellent audio that makes the film scarier than it is
- has a decent story that actually made some sense

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- movie could have been more effective overall if it could have been shorter
- may actually just be scary when watching it in a movie house. Not sure if audio will have the same effect if you are watching it on a DVD at home


Thanks to Viva International Pictures for inviting us to the celebrity premiere with Iza Calzado. Catch "The Echo" on all cinemas starting September 30, 2009.

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7 Comments

Comments

  1. watched this film already and love it!Iza plays it well with her role both in sigaw and in this remake!must watch movie!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Anonymous,

    Were you also in the celebrity premiere last week?

    Yup and we have to agree, Iza played well even with her limited role.

    Thanks for commenting! We hope to hear from you soon!

    ReplyDelete
  3. The remake IS inferior to the original. It was indeed too long, and the rewrite had to force so many unnecessary scenes on the viewers in the hopes of making it 'scarier'. The original version was able to transcend its derivative elements, but the remake wallowed in its unoriginality. I agree that the girlfriend was terribly unremarkable and expendable, and that Iza Calzado managed to shine despite her limited exposure. I don't really blame Laranas, though. The rewritten script alone, which was made by Eric Bernt, certainly doomed the remake from the start.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Anonymous,

    The bottom line for "The Echo" is its way better than what we expected from a Hollywood remake and that was what made it a pretty good successor against the original.

    Anyway, the points you made are excellent. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello,
    Great post
    Movies are also a source of inspiration to many. There are many people in this world who have been inspired by movies to do something big in their lives. For example, movie based on biographies of great people have influenced people to attain the same pinnacle in their lives. I still remember my friend who after watching the movie "The Mahatma" starring Ben Kingsley was forced to change her general attitude towards life.
    harry

    ReplyDelete
  6. Fine review. I like the theme of An ex-con who moves into an old apartment building, where he encounters a domestic problem involving a police officer.

    madona

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you for your very fair review. Much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete