WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? The second horror release this year from Artisan (the studio who brought us Blair Witch Project) is said to be a genuinely chilling and thoughtful paranormal thriller. Plus, Kevin Bacon's always a big deal.

THE CAST

KEVIN BACON: Supporting actor whose prolific resume got him his own game; returns to leading man status with Stir. Most recently seen -- and do we mean seen! -- in Wild Things.

KATHRYN ERBE: Little-known character actress in her first true leading role; check out her excellent performance in the HBO drama Oz as death-row inmate Shirley Bellinger.

ILLEANA DOUGLAS: Best known as Edna Buxton, the singer in Grace of My Heart. She also got her fingers munched on by De Niro in Cape Fear.

THE CREW

DAVID KOEPP: Best known as a writer, Stir writer/director Koepp scripted some of the most popular movies of the last few years, among them Jurassic Park, Men in Black and Mission: Impossible; his best-known directorial effort is The Trigger Effect.

RICHARD MATHESON: Legendary horror novelist whose film adaptations have a tendency to suck (see -- or don't, actually: What Dreams May Come, Omega Man), Matheson wrote the novel from which this film is adapted.

OTHER

Stir of Echoes is an Artisan Entertainment Production produced by Judy Hoffland and Gavin Polone.

THE PREMISE: After undergoing hypnosis, Kevin Bacon becomes obsessed with the idea that there are supernatural forces at work in his home. He and his wife, Kathryn Erbe, struggle to find the source of his horrifying visions.

GOSSIP and USELESS FACTS:

• We've heard many wonderful things about this film, among them that not only is it terrifying, intelligent and compelling, but that it contains Bacon's best work in years and a terrific breakthrough performance from Erbe. Also said to be very Polanski-esque, which equals extreme coolness with us.

Official Site