The Changeling – Movie Review
ABC Film Challenge – Favourite – C
Director: Peter Medak
Writer: William Gray, Diana Maddox (Screenplay)
Writer: Russell Hunter (Story)
Cast
- George C Scott (The Hustler)
- Trish Van Devere (Where’s Poppa?)
- Melvyn Douglas (Ghost Story)
- Jean Marsh (Willow)
- John Colicos (Battlestar Galactica)
Plot: After experiencing tragic personal losses, a music professor rents a Seattle mansion, haunted by a slain boy.
Runtime: 1 Hour 47 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: The Changeling starts when music professor John Russell (Crowe) loses his family in a tragic accident. He tries to rebuild his life, with a family friend Claire (Van Devere) showing him a mansion to rent. As John settles into his new home, he starts hearing things around the mansion.
John turns to professional friends to guide him, who send him to a psychic. This unlocks a disturbing story of a slain boy living in the mansion, trying to communicate with John. John must unlock the secret to his death, to life the curse following him around.
Verdict on The Changeling
The Changeling is a horror mystery following a grieving father and widow who rents a mansion. However, he starts getting hauntings around the home and turns to people to help him. Sadly, this makes things more serious, and he must unlock the mystery of the spirit haunting him.
This movie deals with grief and creates a connection to the supernatural. It has a mystery which has become a far more traditional ghost haunting story. The movie uses the haunting to guide someone, which creates a bigger mystery to watch unfold. There are great haunting moments, which help the story evolve into a much bigger threat. We get brilliant performances that carry the mystery further as it takes a much more serious crime to the table.
Where to Watch
a JustWatch
Final Thoughts – The Changeling is an excellent paranormal mystery.
