The Changeling (1980)

Solid and subtle haunted house film that goes the way of atmosphere and story instead of blood and guts. George C. Scott plays John Russell, a middle aged composer of classical music who’s recently lost both his wife and daughter to a freak auto accident. Trying to get over the pain of losing his loved ones, John accepts a teaching job at a university while moving into an old mansion owned by the local Historical Society. Soon after getting settled in his new home, John starts hearing various banging’s and moans, the sure sign of a spook on the premises. After doing a little investigating, he discovers the usual “troubled background” of the home, comes across a hidden (and very creepy) room in the attic, and finds that the home’s mysterious past has some strange ties to a powerful senator.

“The Changeling” was a complete antithesis at the time of its release to the other types of scare flicks that were dominant in the theatres. At the dawn of the slasher film frenzy following “Halloween” and “Friday the 13”, most horror films were featuring masked weirdos hacking and slashing fornicating teenagers in various gruesome ways. “The Changeling”, however, was an old school throwback to competent acting, an intelligent script, and scares of the low-key variety, while combining elements from both the supernatural and mystery genres. Director Peter Medak creates a cold and chilling atmosphere, letting the scares build slowly as we come to sympathize with George C. Scott’s character as a grieving father and widow. The ghostly visitations start out slowly, and if you never thought that a rubber ball or a wheel chair could seem scary, you will after viewing this baby. Some of my favorite scenes include a truly creepy séance sequence, and a scene where Trish Van Dever’s character approaches the “hidden” room in that big dark house all by her lonesome. Brrrr. “The Changeling” is a good view on a dark and stormy night, and shows that a decent script and restraint behind the camera goes a long way over blood and guts in the scare department.