Stir of Echoes has been compared to The Sixth Sense, and while there are similarities (primarily in the fact that the protagonists in both films can communicate with the dead), this film is more of a straight-forward whodunit type of suspense thriller.
Tom Witzky (Kevin Bacon) is a cynical father who, after being hypnotised, begins to see dead people. In particular, the person he sees is a girl, Samantha (Jenny Morrison), who has been reported missing. Soon, with the aid of his son Jake (Zachary David Cope) who also possess this "gift", Tom learns that Samantha was brutally murdered. However, there are certain interests in the neighbourhood who would prefer that this never be revealed. So Tom not only struggles to discover what has happened, but also fight off those who would want to stop him at any cost.
There is another interesting similarity to The Sixth Sense but it is subtle: During the film, Tom experiences visions, but unlike flashbacks, these are visions of the future. In the end, the future unfolds just like his visions but in contrast to what the audience expects. Compare this to the The Sixth Sense, where the audience is shown the actual events and are led to believe something else. In the end, the audience are shown flashbacks in a context that make for a different interpretation of the events.
For the most part, the movie is taut and exciting, and overall has a higher degree of consistent tension in comparison to The Sixth Sense. The acting by Bacon and the supporting characters is perfect, and the character development is excellent. The two major flaws I had with was the lack of development of the eerie police officer (Eddie Bo Smith Jr.) who also possesses the "gift", and the ending which almost sets the stage for a sequel (that would most likely be a mistake). I highly recommend renting it, particularly if you liked The Sixth Sense.