The Changeling (1980)

Featured Audience Ratings

• David L

  
  The Changeling stars George C. Scott as John Russell, a music composer whose life is shattered when an accident kills both his wife and young daughter. Relocating to Seattle, Russell rents a large Gothic style mansion from which to bury himself in his work. But he soon discovers he is… More
  The Changeling stars George C. Scott as John Russell, a music composer whose life is shattered when an accident kills both his wife and young daughter. Relocating to Seattle, Russell rents a large Gothic style mansion from which to bury himself in his work. But he soon discovers he is not alone in the house, there is a ghost here and it desperately wants his help with something...... Not a teenager or a scantily clad bad actress in sight here, for this is a traditional haunted house spooker for the adults, one that has a distressing mystery at its core that's just aching to be solved. Chief screen writer Russell Hunter has based much of the film on an incidents that happened to him in real life when he moved into a house in Denver. If you believe him or not is not really the point, because it does not take away from just how well executed The Changeling is, both as a scary movie and a well thought out drama. There's limited characters in the narrative, thus keeping the film free from filler and the clumsy character set-ups that mar so many horror films these days. It's also worth noting that it doesn't suffer from dating either, and proves a haunted house tale can be effective in any decade if the writing and direction is spot on. The Changeling has both, plus a towering and believable performance from Scott leading the way. Director Peter Medak clearly knows that an imposing house is a key element. Utilising the big spaces to emphasise Russell's loneliness, he sweeps his camera around the sets (this is not a real house, it's a brilliant mock-up creation by the designers) to give the feeling of a spirit observing proceedings. The house is always a main character and acts as the perfect backdrop to some ghostly goings on (excellent work from the sound department too). The chills are genuine, the attic room is creepy personified, a rubber ball, a wheelchair, a bath sequence, an old water well and even the gentle tinkling from a music box, all induce the hairs on the back of the neck to stand to attention. All played out to some lush unholy musical arrangements from Ken Wannberg (the music box theme composed by Howard Blake). Setting it apart from conventional haunted house movies is that it has a most intriguing story to tell. One of murder, greed, deception and grief. The latter part is often forgotten when talk of The Changeling arises. John Russell is absolutely stricken with grief, this stops him from being one of those characters who you shake your head at because they refuse to leave a clearly troubled house. His grief process, which makes him the ideal host for what this spirit wants, means he has no fear, some unhappy ghost can't hurt him anymore than he is hurting anyway. It's a neat and seamless meditation on grief that's threaded into the story. The last quarter of the film slips into action territory, which is a little jarring given the smooth pacing Medak has favored up to that point. But although the scares have gone, the intelligent story has come full circle and the film closes down triumphantly without copping out or having resorted to unimaginative formula. An essential viewing for those who like haunted house movies; especially if you like slow build and genuine mystery as well.

• Cory T

  
  Piano keys, leaking faucets and a cobweb-wrapped wheelchair moving via invisible forces are among the diabolically understated supernatural events in 'The Changeling', a classy, slow-burn haunted house film which doesn't succumb to bloodshed or aberrant imagery to coax… More
  Piano keys, leaking faucets and a cobweb-wrapped wheelchair moving via invisible forces are among the diabolically understated supernatural events in 'The Changeling', a classy, slow-burn haunted house film which doesn't succumb to bloodshed or aberrant imagery to coax goosebumps from the audience. If it weren't for the uncommonly placid composure of Scott and a deflating ending, this would be applauded as one of the prime example of how to suffocate viewers with atmosphere. The most nail-biting scene is when a medium furiously scribbles messages from the poltergeist on paper. This scene obviously influenced 'Insidious' and a synonymous scene in a well was a impetus for 'The Ring'. 'The Changeling' may not be well-known, but it was a cerebral, astoundingly scary forefather for many possessed-estate movies to follow.

• Unknown H

  
  Although this movie confused the hell out of me and Angelina Jolie did not STOP crying through out it, I enjoyed seeing her stripped of her sexiness and getting down to some real gritty acting. For anyone who has children, you will find yourself wrenching as the minutes tick by. There… More
  Although this movie confused the hell out of me and Angelina Jolie did not STOP crying through out it, I enjoyed seeing her stripped of her sexiness and getting down to some real gritty acting. For anyone who has children, you will find yourself wrenching as the minutes tick by. There are a hell of a lot of the minutes too I'd like to add.

• AJ V

  
  A good horror story about a "Changeling" (the ghost of a murdered child) who wants to get revenge. It's got some really creepy scenes, and the actors are good too.

• Jeff "

  
  Not since The Haunting which was released in 1963 has a haunted house movie felt superior, and genuinely creepy. Not even The Amityville Horror is this good. The film is creepy, and horrifying as a boy's spirit haunts an old mansion occupied by George C. Scott. A terrific… More
  Not since The Haunting which was released in 1963 has a haunted house movie felt superior, and genuinely creepy. Not even The Amityville Horror is this good. The film is creepy, and horrifying as a boy's spirit haunts an old mansion occupied by George C. Scott. A terrific atmosphere of creepiness and horror envelopes this film and is a work terrifying genius. It's a tense, thrilling film, and throughout the film the story unfolds little by little as you keep wondering what will happen next. The Changeling is an accomplished film in the hands of director Peter Medak and ends up being an excellent supernatural horror thriller. Unlike The Amityville Horror, The Changeling feel real, it doesn't feel fake. While Amityville Horror was scary, it lacked something to make it truly an astounding film. Whatever it was, The Changeling possess all the traits of a good haunted house film that Amityville was lacking. The Changeling is one of the best horror films of it's kind and George C Scott gives his best performance since Patton and Dr. Strangelove. The is a real nail bitter, and will definitely freak you out. No film has surpassed The Changeling in pure terror since it's release, and if you have the chance in seeing this film, you should definitely watch it. This is a unique gem from the early 80's. One of the best aspects of the film is that it doesn't rely on cheap jump scares or gory elements (like the standard horror films did at that time), instead the film relies more on suspense and the overall pacing of the plot to suck you in and create the terror. A true horror masterpiece.

• Drew S

  
  Sadly washed out by the advent of The Shining, which arrived in the same year to much more success, The Changeling is a handsome swan song to stuffy "possessed house" horror. At this point, gory fatalist schlock was starting to gain ground in the horror market (Friday the… More
  Sadly washed out by the advent of The Shining, which arrived in the same year to much more success, The Changeling is a handsome swan song to stuffy "possessed house" horror. At this point, gory fatalist schlock was starting to gain ground in the horror market (Friday the 13th, Prom Night and The Fog in 1980 alone, and Halloween's domination two years earlier), and The Changeling was the last bastion of the quickly-fading haunted house flick. At that point, films like this simply became too pokey to truly thrive anymore. The Shining is a notable exception because the film is a dynamic fusion of classicism and artistic innovation; The Changeling is no such paragon. Guess which film people still remember today. I don't think this film deserves the utter obscurity that it's found itself in. It has the aesthetic know-how to back up its stately ponderousness, The haunted house in question is absolutely gorgeous, miles and miles of sleek wood and neo-Gothic architecture. The music is symphonic and, if not terribly challenging, strikingly composed. I'm not sure if The Changeling was a big-budget effort but it is certainly a remarkable product in terms of production. Unfortunately, all this grandeur doesn't really hold up anything of substance. Changeling's plot is disappointingly familiar, a typical mystery yarn with no thematic depth and no personal resonance. Its plot serves as detached creepy fun, but little more than that. Perhaps most disappointing is George C. Scott's turgid performance as a grieving father and widower, "troubled" by the familiar events coursing through his house. The quotes are there because through the movie, he completely fails to express anything, be it fear or anguish. One might argue that this is because he's suffered so much that an apparition doesn't have a lot to take from him, but the performance never seems to scaffold this theory. He just looks bored. The weakness in this essaying is even more apparent when placed next to excellent supporting actors, far more compelling even in limited capacities. Trish Van Devere, playing a totally incidental part as the woman who sells John his house and becomes embroiled in the mystery, seems about fifty times more interested in the proceedings. It shows in her performance, she is remarkably convincing. Melvyn Douglas, in a brief but pivotal role, is equally vivid. Next to these two, Scott seems tragically undernourished. The Changeling s deeply flawed, but very watchable if you're into this genre (which I am by all means). Casual horror fans should stay away because the movie isn't particularly scary; all it really amounts to is a slight hum on the Creepy Radar. If you choose to view this as a mystery flick, however, that's not a bad thing at all. Perhaps The Changeling is a much older tale of the mismarketing that often plagues dark dramas, but like many of them, it stands well on its own two legs.

• Tim S

  
  While I agree that the entire haunted house genre has been beaten senseless over the head just as much as creepy ghost stories have, it's still nice to see a film that does both pretty well...to a degree. The Changeling, made in 1979, really delivers in terms of atmosphere and… More
  While I agree that the entire haunted house genre has been beaten senseless over the head just as much as creepy ghost stories have, it's still nice to see a film that does both pretty well...to a degree. The Changeling, made in 1979, really delivers in terms of atmosphere and creepiness, however some of it really falls apart in the latter half of the movie, which I will get to later. First of all, I have to pick on the cast a little bit. Don't get me wrong, I love George G. Scott in just about anything I see him in because he's such an electrifying actor, and one of the best of his generation, but he seems out of place in this movie. He doesn't really look the part, for one thing, and he plays it almost alarmingly straight. So much so that his performance doesn't really match how a character would react to these supernatural events that are occurring. Although, there could be a good reason for that, which I'll get to in a bit. The rest of the cast of relatively unknown actors from the era do decent supporting work, but you can tell the direction isn't very strong because they seem to fall flat a lot of the time. No fault of theirs. The film's look, however, is very nice. Atmosphere is pretty much your bread and butter in a ghost story and it seems to come off remarkably well here, despite the film's other flaws. The score is magnificent, as well. Mostly classical rather than symphonic, it's effective and creepy, which is what this film's strong point is: creepiness. But alas, the film's high points balance out with their lows, which is a shame because this movie is aiming very high and almost gets there. For starters, I mentioned George C. Scott's character having almost no real reaction to what's going on around him. He generally seems undeterred and unshaken by these events, but it could be on purpose because of the dramatic events that open the film which befall his character. It's almost as if the character has seen REAL horror so bumps and boos are not a big deal to him, but herein lies a story dynamic which is missing from the last act of the film. If what I said in the previous sentence IS true and that the only reason Scott's character loses something important to him in the opening of the movie that affects him later on, then why is there no reconciliation or no tie-in storyline to wrap up that important dynamic? If it isn't true, then the film doesn't require the opening sequence at all because it serves no purpose to the main plot. If it is true, more of a deal should have been about it than what was. Maybe a line like I said previously: "I've seen real horror...ghosts don't scare me." Something along those lines anyways, but no mention of it is made. So the cast and certain story elements left me craving more. I'd also like to add that the pace and actual edit of the film make it feel like a movie-of-the-week, in a good way. Not a cheap one, it just oozes that sort of quality without even really trying. On a sidenote, I've noticed that in most of the haunted house/ghost stories, the lead character is always a writer, musician, actor or filmmaker. Don't know why that is, but hey, the writer of the film DID go through these sort of experiences, so maybe it's just self-reflection. Whatever mistakes or problems WERE made before, during and after production, The Changeling is an excellent haunted house/creepy ghost story and one that will definitely give you the bump for your buck. Had it worked out it's a problems, it could have been a lot more.

• Robert C

  
  A little slow at times...but all and all a creppy, spooky, enjoyable little film.

• Craig S

  
  <u><b>Directed by:</u> Peter Medak.</b> <u><b>Starring:</u> George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere.</b> Such a hard film to find and such an unknown film to many, god knows why, especially in a world where people ask for a film that can… More
  <u><b>Directed by:</u> Peter Medak.</b> <u><b>Starring:</u> George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere.</b> Such a hard film to find and such an unknown film to many, god knows why, especially in a world where people ask for a film that can naturally and expertly give you the chills....what do I say to them? Find this film. The story follows the start of a family vacation for composer John Russell, but when a freak accident kills his wife and child, John is left devastated. With some help from friends, he rents a mansion with enough room to reflect and compose. Soon, this house proves to be more than just its large emptiness, the house starts to make noises at exactly 6am every morning, doors start to open and close by themselves....it all leads John to the devastating truth behind this house. I was first surprised at how technically advanced this film was for the year it was made, the vast scale and design is amazing and there are some visually stunning sequences to be had. I will admit, I was about to turn the film off within the first 30 minutes, although the film was stunningly shot, I had heard about the film being so unbearably chilling....but I didn't see it, from the strangely out of place music to the lack of tension, I saw no way that the film could redeem itself.....boy, was I very wrong! About the time when 'the room' is discovered (I won't say anymore than that), the film surpasses the expectations I had. Along with being beautifully shot, the tension is thick and we are given only small scenes that really chill you to your core, that you kept on the edge of your seat, waiting for the next one....there are so many scenes that will certainly stay with me for days(one involves a 'ball', another of a fast 'dolly shot' around the house). With 'horror' films of today (notice the '' around horror?), they have no clue on what can scare an audience, instead they rely on loud noises, sudden images and overkill of 'boo' moments, not to mention the lack of knowledge of horror by the filmmakers, Peter Medak on the other hand knows how to make our hairs stand up, from the whispers to the small noises, even the movements and angles used, scanning the house, it works so brilliantly. When we are not being chilled to the bone, there is a very compelling mystery story behind the film, that slowly builds us with the characters through many clues and a strong story, we are always kept attentive for whats to come. I somehow can't seem to judge the acting, I don't know of these actors and somehow I can't say anymore than they delivered solid performances, but I will say I wasn't overly impressed with George C. Scott, who just seemed to be too 'calm' throughout the film, even in the most terrifying parts where any normal man would think twice, he just seems normal and goes on with life. But aside from that very small fault (that didn't effect the film for me), everything I had heard about this film was true and I am glad I searched for it. A very chilling, unnerving and compelling horror that is brilliantly directed and leaves imprints in your mind days after you finished watching the film.

• A.D. V

  
  Twenty years ago I'd have called this a scary well-made thriller but the film hasn't aged well and has lost most of it's impact.

• Lafe F

  
  A superb ghost story. Some of the scenes were extremely freaky. I'd want to get out of that place if I were George C. Scott! However, the story behind the title itself was a bit boring and outrageous. They should've just stuck to the ghost in the house, and forget the… More
  A superb ghost story. Some of the scenes were extremely freaky. I'd want to get out of that place if I were George C. Scott! However, the story behind the title itself was a bit boring and outrageous. They should've just stuck to the ghost in the house, and forget the whole murder coverup.

• Dr Blood  

  
  This is one of the scariest ghost stories ever filmed. Full of suspense and a nasty feeling of dread. The ending is a bit of a let down as things move towards a predictable denouement.

• Pierluigi P

  
  director Peter Medak wisely sees things through the big scope, creating a chilling, eerie, atmosferical film with a great performance by the equally brilliant George C. Scott. one of the most striking and yet sadly overlooked horror film. a must see for any haunted house movie fan.

• Jason S

  
  One of the scariest movies ever.

• Ryan M

  
  *** out of **** "The Changeling" is a crafty, sly, and wholesomely effective horror film that takes inspiration from all over the place; yet it isn't messy. It's a good old fashioned haunted house story that works for a variety of unique and note-worthy reasons… More
  *** out of **** "The Changeling" is a crafty, sly, and wholesomely effective horror film that takes inspiration from all over the place; yet it isn't messy. It's a good old fashioned haunted house story that works for a variety of unique and note-worthy reasons - one of them being the successful collaboration between its writer (Russell Hunter) and its director (Peter Medak). As far as haunted house movies go; it's my favorite kind. To be precise, that "kind" which I refer to is the "kind" of haunted house movie that takes its precious time to get to the juicy (and creepy) stuff. Its equal parts frightening and richly glazed with suspense along the way, so there is still plenty to appreciate while we wait patiently for the expected things to start happening. The fun part of movies such as this one is the ride there; when we reach our destination, and things get both loud and almost obnoxiously jumpy, it's wild and imaginative (often times), but also less interesting and/or engaging. "The Changeling" will not go down in history as a classic for its genre, or the sub-genre that it aspires to fall under, but it stands alone and it stands tall. If you like movies of this sort - and I went in knowing that I did - then you will probably enjoy yourself. If not, then the movie still has its pleasures; a few creepy, genuinely scary moments here-and-there, but alas, nothing absolutely spectacular. Even with such flaws and considerations, I have this ever-respectable affection for the film, and yes, I'd even say I recommend it. But that's as far as I'll go. Many people have a problem with the film's story and its characters. The film begins promisingly with the death of a wife and a daughter by tragic car collision on one ill-fated winter day. The husband (and father) is the only survivor of this tragedy. His name is John Russell (George C. Scott). After the incident that claimed the two lives of those most close to him, he moves to a Victorian-style mansion to try to escape his rough past. And it's a creepy old place. John cozies up quite nicely at first; there's plenty of space for him to practice his piano-playing skills, which he puts to great use whenever he teaches a class on that particular instrument (at heart, he is a composer), and the place just seems...ideal. A little cleaning up could help make it significantly less ominous and, well, creepy; sure. But that shouldn't be too much of a hassle, right? Wrong. A few days pass and John has explored most areas in his large new home. He seems at peace until he begins to hear strange noises; and John is able to see what a few of the sources are. Windows break on random, doors close unexpectedly and without any physical force to move them, and there's some loud noise coming from the upstairs. John, a typical horror movie protagonist, tries to ignore such things until they get out of hand. He is fed up. So as can be expected, he does the thing that all horror movie heroes must do in such situations; he calls a psychic medium to his house. But of course, he does this only after he reaches the conclusion that a ghost exists within his house and is not intent on leaving, and decides that he can't do much else about it. One of the film's best scenes involves a séance; which is delightful in its eeriness, especially when the ghost reveals himself to be a little boy who was murdered in the building. We learn his name, his killer, and the location in which his own tragedy befell him. Plenty of other twists come around and reveal their true natures after this; and I won't spoil a thing. The fun of movies with twists - even if a few are more worthy than others - is not knowing what they are when we go in. That way, when we go out, we have something to talk about. "The Changeling", however, is less about any of its story elements. The drama is slightly lacking, even when the protagonist is recalling his loss from the opening sequence. Scott plays the role with efficiency, but his character lacks the written background or depth to truly go beyond the simplicity that is always a given for such individuals. The supporting characters really aren't much better; we don't care much about them, the only real pleasure that accompanies just a select few amongst the crowd is the unexpected turn-up of haunted-house-movie cliché characters. I was more delighted by such things than annoyed. Here's my conclusion: "The Changeling" is a good haunted house movie, as long as that's all you're looking for out of it. Don't expect anything deep, or compelling, or necessarily great; the aim was to create a nightmare, and those involved have done just that. The house is a damn creepy sight to behold; big, old, and shrouded in its own internal mystery. The visual stylistics called upon to make it look and feel as atmospheric as it does are admirable, and the skill here is in high surplus. I liked "The Changeling" because it was simply a fun watch. It has some scares, some chills, some thrills; and I'd watch it any day over those lackluster slasher movies that Hollywood keeps shelling out by the weekend. There's plenty of talent on display here, and if that's assuring enough for you to pursue the movie, then have at it. All films have flaws, and there is no such thing as true perfection, and while this film doesn't even come close to *near* perfection; it's still pretty well-made on its own right. Its fatal flaw is that the people are less intriguing than that darned mansion; I get a feeling that the building could get its own movie and succeed without all these unnecessary inhabitants.

• Quinto W

  
  The movie has it's fair share of creepy moments, and a beautiful house, but it is also quite over-the-top at times and kills all of the accumulated suspense. Nevertheless, it's a film that knows how to work some old cliches and do something fun with them.

• Doctor S

  
  Appears near the top of so many 'greatest horror film' lists that I had to see this, after all George C. Scott is not the first, nor the thousandth name you would think of to star in such a film. In actuality, this is more of a supernatural mystery with some horror elements… More
  Appears near the top of so many 'greatest horror film' lists that I had to see this, after all George C. Scott is not the first, nor the thousandth name you would think of to star in such a film. In actuality, this is more of a supernatural mystery with some horror elements thrown in. Starts off slowly as another possessed house movie that was all the rage in 1979/80 (Amityville Horror, The Shining) but really gets interesting once the secrets behind the strange happenings are uncovered. What is most enduring about 'The Changeling' is the enormous obvious influence it has had on some of modern cinemas biggest blockbusters, most notably 'The Sixth Sense' and 'The Ring,' with key sequences and themes directly lifted! Not to mention any movie that has a ball bouncing down an empty staircase. So I had a sense of deja vu since I'd seen those other movies already and could stay a step ahead of the investigation, but worth remembering that 'The Changeling' did it first.

• John M

  
  "The Changeling" is easily one of the best haunted-house movies ever made. It mixes horror elements with mystery without relying on explicit gore. It is well writen, the acting is perfect, the music is involving and the frights are very effective.

• Barry L

  
  Nasty...watch it alone in the dark...

• Anthony V

  
  Great ghost story.

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