The Changeling
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Peter Medak
Writer: Russel Hunter, William Gray
Release date: March 28th 1980 USA
Staring: George C. Scott, Trish Van
Devere, Melvyn Douglas, Jean Marsh,
John Colicos
Running Time: 107 minutes
Rated: R
Director: Peter Medak
Writer: Russel Hunter, William Gray
Release date: March 28th 1980 USA
Staring: George C. Scott, Trish Van
Devere, Melvyn Douglas, Jean Marsh,
John Colicos
Running Time: 107 minutes
Rated: R
Back of the box:
Director Peter Medak's haunted-house tale stands as one of the most
chilling stories to make it to the big screen. When composer John Russell
(George C. Scott) loses his wife and daughter in a car wreck, he seeks
solace by renting a secluded estate outside Seattle. But the mansion is
haunted by the presence of a child who died there more than 80 years
ago. Now, Russell must find out who that child was, and why there seems to
be a cover-up now.
Director Peter Medak's haunted-house tale stands as one of the most
chilling stories to make it to the big screen. When composer John Russell
(George C. Scott) loses his wife and daughter in a car wreck, he seeks
solace by renting a secluded estate outside Seattle. But the mansion is
haunted by the presence of a child who died there more than 80 years
ago. Now, Russell must find out who that child was, and why there seems to
be a cover-up now.
The Bloody Truth:
The Changeling is one of the great classic haunted house movies. The
film is long and drawn out, exposing itself seemingly one page at a time like
a book you can't put down. Director Peter Medak assisted with some
brilliant acting creates a film rich with atmosphere and the use of the
musical score is second to none in bringing it all together.
The Changeling takes us back to a time when horror films were not
created for instant gratification and shock but to instead deliver a rich
story, chill us to the bone and possibly even get us thinking.
If you are a fan of classic ghost stories and somehow missed this one, it’s
a must see for sure.
The Changeling is one of the great classic haunted house movies. The
film is long and drawn out, exposing itself seemingly one page at a time like
a book you can't put down. Director Peter Medak assisted with some
brilliant acting creates a film rich with atmosphere and the use of the
musical score is second to none in bringing it all together.
The Changeling takes us back to a time when horror films were not
created for instant gratification and shock but to instead deliver a rich
story, chill us to the bone and possibly even get us thinking.
If you are a fan of classic ghost stories and somehow missed this one, it’s
a must see for sure.
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Restless spirits, unhappy demons
and cursed places await you
and cursed places await you
And the rest.. 1 to 5
Acting - 3 Cinematography - 3
Sound - 3 Music - 5
Story - 4 Reality - 3
Acting - 3 Cinematography - 3
Sound - 3 Music - 5
Story - 4 Reality - 3
1
2
2
5
6
There was a time in horror movies not that long ago when special effects and fountains of blood were far less relied upon than they
seem to be today; atmospheric surroundings and character driven plot lines were the real hook that left your mind reeling and your
heart pumping and this is where The Changeling shines. A true classic of the supernatural genre in every sense of the word, The
Changeling set the rules and laid the ground work, creating a formula for almost every haunted house film to follow in it's wake. If you're
a fan of this style of movie and watch a lot of them, but are new to The Changeling, it runs the risk of seemingly employing every ghostly
cliché in the book. But don't be fooled, The Changeling, while certainly not the first ghost story, helped to bridge the gap between
original classics like House on Haunted Hill and more modern terrors like ... well the remake of House on Haunted Hill! Don't quote me on
that one though because unlike that debacle of a film The Changeling is actually quite good and helped to perfect the art of the modern
jump scare. Ranking high on most horror movie lists as one of the greats the film was a true pioneer in the field of the modern day ghost
story.
What sets The Changeling apart from many of it's copy cats is it's ability to utilize not only the classic jump scare tactics that the genre is
so famous for but also a well crafted unraveling of clues as to the identity of our ghost and the circumstances surrounding the death.
Part murder mystery, part haunted house thriller, The Changeling manages to follow a very basic formula and still keep you guessing
and interested in the fate of all the characters. This is especially true of the main protagonist John Russell (brilliantly played by the
always amazing George C. Scott). From the first sixty seconds of the film we are instantly invested in John's life and are swept away with
him on a fantastic journey of grief, confusion, anger and terror.
The premise is a familiar one – man with a tragic past moves into long abandoned house with an equally tragic and mysterious past and
strange things happen, as strange things are often want to do. The joy is in the performances of the actors and the execution of the
strangeness which is both exceedingly creepy and intelligent. It is difficult to review what makes The Changeling so great without giving
away any of the surprises or jump scares it has in store for you, but if you're a fan of beginnings, there is no better one than the birth of
a classic genre.
seem to be today; atmospheric surroundings and character driven plot lines were the real hook that left your mind reeling and your
heart pumping and this is where The Changeling shines. A true classic of the supernatural genre in every sense of the word, The
Changeling set the rules and laid the ground work, creating a formula for almost every haunted house film to follow in it's wake. If you're
a fan of this style of movie and watch a lot of them, but are new to The Changeling, it runs the risk of seemingly employing every ghostly
cliché in the book. But don't be fooled, The Changeling, while certainly not the first ghost story, helped to bridge the gap between
original classics like House on Haunted Hill and more modern terrors like ... well the remake of House on Haunted Hill! Don't quote me on
that one though because unlike that debacle of a film The Changeling is actually quite good and helped to perfect the art of the modern
jump scare. Ranking high on most horror movie lists as one of the greats the film was a true pioneer in the field of the modern day ghost
story.
What sets The Changeling apart from many of it's copy cats is it's ability to utilize not only the classic jump scare tactics that the genre is
so famous for but also a well crafted unraveling of clues as to the identity of our ghost and the circumstances surrounding the death.
Part murder mystery, part haunted house thriller, The Changeling manages to follow a very basic formula and still keep you guessing
and interested in the fate of all the characters. This is especially true of the main protagonist John Russell (brilliantly played by the
always amazing George C. Scott). From the first sixty seconds of the film we are instantly invested in John's life and are swept away with
him on a fantastic journey of grief, confusion, anger and terror.
The premise is a familiar one – man with a tragic past moves into long abandoned house with an equally tragic and mysterious past and
strange things happen, as strange things are often want to do. The joy is in the performances of the actors and the execution of the
strangeness which is both exceedingly creepy and intelligent. It is difficult to review what makes The Changeling so great without giving
away any of the surprises or jump scares it has in store for you, but if you're a fan of beginnings, there is no better one than the birth of
a classic genre.