On C List of Movie Reviews

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The Changeling (1980)

Rate: 8
Viewed: 8/06, 5/23

Changeling
8/06: What a great picture The Changeling is.

It's full of suspense with an exciting mystery story to boot. There's never a letdown for a single minute, and it's a lot of fun to watch the whole thing to unfold. At first glance, I thought The Changeling would be another typical haunted house picture, but it turns out to be much different than the others. George C. Scott is excellent; this one can't have worked without him.

Additionally, I'm impressed with the filmmakers for not relying on special effects, and there isn't any. Instead, they took advantage of the power of good old-fashioned storytelling. How the house communicates with the characters is fascinating stuff.

All in all, The Changeling is a superb supernatural murder mystery picture with plenty of suspense.

5/23: If you loved Burnt Offerings, The Changeling should be right up your alley.

Only this time it's not a horror but a murder mystery movie. The story is intelligent with the house communicating with a newly moved-in inhabitant to right a wrong. My theory as to why it took so long is that the spirit of the deceased boy first needed somebody living in the house in order to make the connection between what happened and the senator. The next critical point is that he had to be willing to try.

Meanwhile, the photography shots from a geometric viewpoint are excellent while the editing takes the film to another level. Of course, George C. Scott is the best, and he's perfect for the role. The biggest flaw is how it can be that his character was able to figure out a great deal so quickly. That kind of stuff takes a while. By the way, Trish Van Devere, who plays the real estate agent for the historical society, was his real-life wife, and the house as shown in the film doesn't exist.

All in all, The Changeling has all of the elements to be a successful haunted house thriller, and having George C. Scott on board is the final clincher.