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The Changeling
Customer Reviews
Rating:  - Watching this scary flick may leave you changeling your pants
This one is truly spooky. Other movies that have scared the bee-jesus right out of me come to mind whilst writing about "The Changeling": Ghost Story, Fatal Attraction, or Shannon Tweed's Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death. This movie is right up there with them and perhaps even a little scarier than Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (which sure is fun to say...try it, right now, go on, right there at your computer...laughed didn't ya?)
George C. Scott turns in a convincing performance and Trish Van DeVere (who sounds mostly Dutch) is winningly watchable as they play this star-crossed detective kinda couple who have to get to the bottom of the mysteries of the haunted house Scott finds himself living in. The plot starts to build on a low boil and just ratchets up the scare heat from there. What one learns when watching this movie is that little kids who die young through no fault of their own (but perhaps the fault of others...don't want to give away a spoiler here you know) and lived in Seattle (but not for long) at the turn of the century will go to any lengths to revenge their death. If this isn't a truism you have arrived at in life just yet...get "The Changeling" watch but just don't watch it alone in a dark dark house on a stormy stormy night. No, you'll want all the lights on for this one my friend.
Warning, if you are parents of young children especially boys, there may be this scene that you will have difficulty watching if not all together turn you off from watching anymore of the movie. I was Ok with the remaining 99% of the flick since there are scenes that are so truly scary that you'll be shivering in your justin ropers you will.
Since the flick was made in 1980 there are some effects that will elicit a chuckle which is just fine if your making a comedy, not so much for a horror flick. George C. Scott's character's wife and young child die, he moves to Seattle and naturally wants to live in this creepy old house that no one has live in for quite a while because well it's creepy and most likely to be haunted. Well it turns out it is; haunted. A boy died sometime around the turn of the 20th century and is spending his god-given purgatory of a ghost's half-life trying to revenge his death. He is one pissed off ghost, he is.
This boy will use others to write just as fast as he can, whisper spooky ghost-like whispering in one of those reel-to-reel recorders (you know the type that all good poltergeist hunters use), shake some chandeliers, do wheelies in a wheel chair, relieve some painful memories in other peoples minds and perhaps the coolest ghost trick of all...make jewlry squirm out of a well-grave soil underneath someone's floor just like an earthworm mind ya.
So if you like to get a kick every now and then getting your pants scared clean off...get this here "Changeling" flick. It's a little part detective story, a little part murder-mystery, a lot part ghost story, even a little part politico conspiracy power and money grab story. It's a whole lotta scary and gobs of loads of fun. ...mmw
Rating:  - Still Haunts me
By far my favorite horror movie of all time, it has what so many modern "horror" movies lack...subtlety, emotion, believability, atmosphere, quality acting, and just down right creepiness. It also lacks what so many modern horror movies are filled with...outrageous monsters, CGI effects, scantly clad teenagers, blood and guts, clichéd "jump" scenes, and knife wielding maniacs who only walk and yet can keep up with running teenagers.
I saw this movie when I was very young, alone and in the dark, and while I've stopped believing in vampires, ghosts, and goblins...I still get a chill up my spine when I think back on this movie.
Rating: - A compassionate film
This is a remarkably warm film. It's not a horror story by any means and the ghost part, intriguing as it is, takes back seat to a tale of a man in profound grief and how he deals with supernatural events. George C. Scott is superb and the music is absolutely perfect for the vehical it serves. This movie, with its sensitivity and sheer creativity, actually gets better with each viewing.
Rating: - A ghost story for the ages
After losing his family in a horrible accident in Upstate New York, John, still grieving for his wife and child, relocates to Washington State where he moves into an old, historical mansion. Thinking it would be a nice, secluded place to compose his music, he soon learns that he is not alone in the house when a loud, residual-like banging resounds at the same time every day (which is later explained). Curious, he goes about exploring and discovers a locked, hidden door. Eventually getting it open he unravels clues to a young boy's past and gets caught up in searching for answers as to why this spirit is not at peace.
I found THE CHANGELING (1980) to be a gripping haunted house/ghost story for the ages. They don't make horror films like this too often; ones that rely more on good storytelling and chilling atmosphere rather than gore and violence, so I found this movie to be refreshingly entertaining. I'd like to see them redo it but they'd probably just ruin things.
Rating: - Probhably the Best Ghost Story of All Time
I remember going to see this with my Dad in the theaters when it came out. It scared my younger brother so bad, he slept with my mom and dad for a week straight. It was one of those rare films that has a profound effect. Great story and acting by George C. Scott as well as the rest of the cast. Very creepy with no gore. Has some terrifying moments. Love owning it.
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