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The Changeling

The Changeling (1980)

March. 28,1980
|
7.1
|
R
| Horror

After a tragic event happens, composer John Russell moves to Seattle to try to overcome it and build a new and peaceful life in a lonely big house that has been uninhabited for many years. But, soon after, the obscure history of such an old mansion and his own past begin to haunt him.

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Mark Turner
1980/03/28

I remember the first time I ever saw THE CHANGELING. It was on a double bill at a drive-in and I can't recall the other feature. I was impressed with the film at the time and was stunned that it didn't do better business. It featured one of the biggest stars at the time in George C. Scott, was a horror story at a time when they were on the rise and was actually quite well done. And yet it got lost somewhere along the way. It was even rare to find a copy on a video shelf when it came out in that format. All of that changes with the release of the film in blu-ray format from Severin.Composer John Russell (Scoot) is on vacation with his wife and daughter when their car breaks down on a snow covered road. Pushing the car they come across a payphone (the movie was made when those existed) and he walks across to call for help. While he does so an oncoming car crosses the path of a truck that veers and plows across Russell's wife and daughter.Fast forward months later and Russell is still trying to cope with his loss. He moves to Seattle where a friend has set him up to teach at the local college. Looking for a place to stay an agent of the local historic society, Claire Norman (Trish Van Devere) finds him just the place, a Victorian mansion that is secluded and offers him the solace he needs. But things aren't quite what they seem. Russell begins hearing a banging every day at the same time. He has the pipes checked but the noise continues. One night when he hears water running he goes to turn it off and has a vision of a young boy drowning. As he begins investigating the history of the house he finds out more happened there than anyone has realized.Following noises in the house he finds a hidden attic. The doorway is sealed over, boarded up and shelves placed over those boards. Removing them he enters through the door and finds a room upstairs where it appears a young boy lived alone. His diary is there as well as a ball and a wheelchair he would have used. Russel continues to investigate the history of the house with the help of Claire. The noises, breaking glass in windows and more occur. He finds that the history of the house leads to a sitting Senator (Melvyn Douglas) as well as a young boy who was murdered and buried elsewhere. As he continues to discover more he still can't figure out why these images, these spectral visions are attaching themselves to him. What is it they want him to do and how can he follow through?The film is one of the best ghost stories ever committed to film. And like those that are the best it never puts everything on display for all to see. There are no floating sheets flying from one end of the house to the other, no million dollar special effects shots of walls/doors/furniture visibly changing into another form and no zombiefied corpses roaming about seeking revenge. Instead the majority of the hauntings taking place here involve the use of sound, of darkness and light and of things as simple as a bouncing child's ball to create an unsettling tale that holds the viewers interest from start to finish.Directed by acclaimed director Peter Medak who had already directed THE RULING CLASS and would go on to direct THE KRAYS, and ROMEO IS BLEEDING, the film uses a light touch rather than an in your face method of provoking scares and telling a complete story. With a combination of wonderful cinematography, a fantastic script and the acting abilities of the film's stars the result is a ghost tale that is second perhaps only to the 1963 version of THE HAUNTING, one of my all-time favorite films. The movie is an amazing film and one that I'm delighted to see saved from obscurity by Severin. It deserves it. If simply saving the film weren't enough Severin has gone the extra mile and included some wonderful extras that make you want to go back and watch the film a second time just to apply the things learned in those extras. Included in the extras are an audio commentary track with Medak, producer Joel B. Michaels and moderated by Severin Films' David Gregory, THE HOUSE ON CHEESMAN PARK: THE HAUNTING TRUE STORY OF THE CHANGELING in which we learn the facts of the actual case that the film is based on, THE MUSIC OF THE CHANGELING: AN INTERVIEW WITH MUSIC ARRANGER KENNETH WANNBERG, THE BUILDING OF THE HOUSE OF HOROR: AN INTERVIEW WITH ART DIRECTOR REUNBEN FREED, THE PSYCHOTRONIC TOURIST: THE CHANGLING which returns us to the various locations the film was shot at, Master of Horror Mick Garris talking about the film, a poster and stills gallery, the original trailer and TV spots for the film. After watching the pieces here about the real story and the construction of the sets you just want to restart it all over again.I would be remiss if I didn't mention one small item that Severin did here that deserves tremendous praise. I'm sure we've all grown weary of having to put in a disc only to sit patiently while we see the standard FBI warning about copying the film. That doesn't happen here. Instead once the disc loads on your player we see George C. Scott and Trish Van Devere sitting and looking at a microfilm machine taken from the movie. They scroll and stop and we're allowed to see what they're reading. It's the FBI warning written as a news item. What an ingenious way to insert that onto the disc! And it makes viewing the warning seem less a chore than normal, something you'll want others to see when watching the film again.Having the opportunity to watch this film again was such a joy. Having the chance to see it presented in such a way that it was clean, clear and crisp made it even more so. Previously all prints had seemed washed out and slightly off focus from seeing it on an outdoor screen to watching it on sloppily transferred video tape. Now I and many others can enjoy watching it along with the well-made extras again and again. Congratulations Severin on a job well done.

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anaki-82426
1980/03/29

I saw this movie as a kid and it stuck with me enough that I bought the DVD many years later, probably 2001 or 2002. I forgot about the film until this past October (2017). My kids are getting older and they now want to see scarier movies, but there is just too much blood and gore in most movies these days. I am glad I remembered I had that DVD in storage somewhere. Every-time I see the movie it holds up well and remains surprisingly good for being produced in such a different era. The only thing I will mention; which is probably a spoiler, is the ghostly voice saying "Father" "My Father." It still produces the same chills that are rarely commonplace in most of today's horror films.

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nn28
1980/03/30

This movies deserves to be considered a classic in the genre, I first heard of it in a list of the scariest horror movies ever, I saw the picture of George C Scott staring up a burning staircase and new I wanted to watch it. I found it on youtube divided into 10 videos, and I'm glad I did. The movie is very eerie and overall a pretty creepy film. The story is very well written as well. There are also many memorable moments, including a scene with a red ball and another with a wheelchair that you will remember for the rest of your life, even after only one viewing. It all leads up to a finale that is still one of my favorite horror movie endings. The story, the memorable scenes, and the music box all make this a very great underrated classic.

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Fella_shibby
1980/03/31

Had seen this in the mid 80s on a VHS. Revisited it recently on a DVD. Its one of the best haunted house/ghost story. After losing his wife and child in a car accident, George Scott rents a secluded mansion so he can immerse himself in his work and try to move on with his life. George C. Scott is terrific in the lead role. Scott expertly conveyed the pain the character is going thru. The film is very atmospheric, it features excellent cinematography. The director did an excellent job. He created a character outta the spooky mansion. The creepy hallways of the house, the darkened attic, all these are masterfully done. The camera-work is unique, making the viewer feel as if they are in the house along with Scott. Some may not find this scary specially with all those usual stuff like doors banging, pipes making noises, piano playing by itself, window panes breaking, taps starting on its own, etc. but there was sufficient tension n gripping story to hold viewers attention. It is a very well done haunted house, ghost story with more emphasis on the character n drama. I find movies like these sad.

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