Rewatch Horror Movie: The Echo

 

I still remember the first time I saw THE ECHO. 

The movie was released in 2008 but I must have watched it a decade later. After a very long time, I watched a movie that actually scared me. Until then, I was getting bored with the selection of horror movies that were more comical than spooky. I understood fairly early on that not all big-budget movies delivered on their spooky promise. 

Most of them were dull and the effects were barely up to mark. Nevertheless, I was determined to watch as many horror movies as possible, because I was fascinated with that genre. 

The Echo wasn’t just a movie with creepy scenes or jump scares. In fact it had few jump scares and actually provided an effective, and scary story. 

Looking back, I realized what pulled me in was the social commentary on domestic violence. 

The story was about Bobby, moving into his late mother’s apartment. He is an ex-con and as soon as he is released, he finds it difficult to acclimate in his new environment where his friends want nothing to do with him. 

I found this part to be realistic. Unlike other movies where ex-con’s are seen accepted readily and end up running lucrative businesses within weeks, this movie provided an insight into people’s reactions to problems. 

Bobby was protecting his girlfriend which made him kill a person. Yet, his girlfriend seems a little wary to resume their relationship. Bobby seems to know and accept this. He has been labeled as an ex-con now. It is a label not easy to get rid of. 

Now, Bobby could have learned to lay his head down and stay out of trouble, but he is unlike any other. 

If we see anyone being picked on, or being hurt, how many of us would actually intervene? Because intervening means decidedly putting yourself in danger too. What if the bully/criminal turned around and started to pick on you instead? What if he held a grudge long after he was arrested? What if he wanted revenge?

Our lives are complicated as it is. Do we really need to take on someone else’s problem upon us? 

In the movie, Bobby isn’t the type of guy who is going to stand back and watch people being abused. 

When he learns that his neighbor may be subjected to abuse, he tries to stop it until he finds himself in the midst of a terrifying mystery. 

It is up to Bobby to stop the vicious cycle of abuse. The woman next door and her daughter were being abused but none of the neighbors bothered to intervene because the abuser was a policeman. And also, why should they put themselves in harm’s way? 

Bobby stands up for the woman and in the end, that is what breaks the cycle. 

It isn’t easy to break the cycle of abuse. It isn’t easy to stand up for someone. 

It is easy to ignore those who ask for help. There have been several incidents wherein even relatives and friends have preferred staying quiet and uninvolved. Even if the person being abused is a loved one. 

Getting involved means altering your life. It means, you may be saving a person but changing yours by sheltering an abused victim. Is it worth it? 

Sadly, that is the mindset most people have. It is convenient for us to turn the other way and ignore the violence happening around us. 

That is why The Echo was the kind of movie that isn’t easily forgotten. The message isn’t thrust upon you, rather it takes time to explain why stopping abuse is essential in our society. 

Plus, the horror elements are just great. 

You can read my review of the movie here. Careful, there are spoilers.