The Changeling

How, When, Why?

Following our effort for portraying the most representative films of the Canuxploitation genre, we continue revisiting some of the great horror films that came out with a bitter taste despite all the maple syrup efforts put in the making of them. So far we've reviewed a few of the most iconic and I think we still have some more films left to share here with you. The goal is clear here, to allow these films to continue in existance. To help people find quality films that were not necessarily master pieces or Hollywood blockbusters, and finally to teach those who aren't connoisseurs that a good horror film has a lot more to do with storytelling than CGI.

 

The Changeling is a 1980 film, directed by Peter Medak and co-written by Russell Hunter, William Gray and Diana Maddox. It stars George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere, Melvyn Douglas, John Colicos and Jean Marsh. Plot finds Scott as John Russell, a music composer whose life is shattered when an accident kills both his wife and young daughter during a winter break near Whistler (a Vancouver skiing spot). Relocating to Seattle, Russell rents a large Gothic style mansion from which to bury himself in his work. But he soon discovers he is not alone in the house, there is a ghost here and it desperately wants his help with something he's obviously unaware.

I've got you this great house...

Loneliness be my shepherd.

Not a teenager or a scantily clad bad actress in sight here, for this is a traditional haunted house spooker for the adults, one that has a distressing mystery at its core that's just aching to be solved. Chief writer Russell Hunter has based much of the film on incidents that happened to him in real life when he moved into a house in Denver. If you believe him or not is not really the point, because it does not take away from just how well executed The Changeling is, both as a scary movie and a well thought out drama. There's limited characters in the narrative, thus keeping the film free from filler and the clumsy character set-ups that mar so many horror films these days. It's also worth noting that it doesn't suffer from dating either, as Nicole Kidman starred The Others proved 21 years later, a haunted house tale can be effective in any decade if the writing and direction is spot on. The Changeling has both, plus a towering and believable performance from Scott leading the way.

Medak clearly knows that an imposing house is a key element. Utilizing the big spaces to emphasize Russell's loneliness, he sweeps his camera around the sets (this is not a real house, it's a brilliant mock-up creation by the designers) to give the feeling of a spirit observing proceedings. The house is always a main character and acts as the perfect backdrop to some ghostly goings on (excellent work from the sound department too). The chills are genuine, the attic room is creepy personified, a rubber ball, a wheelchair, a bath sequence, an old water well and even the gentle tinkling from a music box, all induce the hairs on the back of the neck to stand to attention. And there's a séance! Oh yes indeed, a séance that's tape recorded, more chills down the spine on the way there as well. All played out to some lush unholy musical arrangements from Ken Wannberg (the music box theme composed by Howard Blake).

Who tossed me my daughter's ball?

Mmm, interesting melody, it sounds just like my latest composition.

At times during the movie you are wondering why a musician would get so interested in finding out about this odd presence that seems to control the house but, then you realize this man has recently lost his wife & daughter under tragic circumstances and that he may somehow be unconsciously thinking this ghost could be related to his late family. Nevertheless, the mystery goes on and it only gets weirder.

Setting it apart from conventional haunted house movies is that it has a most intriguing story to tell. One of murder, greed, deception and grief. The latter part is often forgotten when talk of The Changeling arises. John Russell is absolutely stricken with grief, this stops him from being one of those characters who you shake your head at because they refuse to leave a clearly troubled house. His grief process, which makes him the ideal host for what this spirit wants, means he has no fear, some unhappy ghost can't hurt him anymore than he is hurting anyway. It's a neat and seamless meditation on grief that's threaded into the story. The last quarter of the film slips into action territory, which is a little jarring given the smooth pacing Medak has favoured up to that point. But although the scares have gone, the intelligent story has come full circle and the film closes down triumphantly without copping out or having resorted to unimaginative formula.

There there.

Boy it's warm here.

The Changeling is a film which comes with my highest recommendation possible. This film can easy become one of those rare ones who really scares you. A few preparations need to made first, though. Watch this film late at night if possible. Don't turn on too many lights and make sure no other sounds then those coming from the movie can ruin the atmosphere. This really was one of the best stories I ever saw. It's a known film but not so much as the Amityville Horror, which was released around the same time. Well, in my humble opinion, The Changeling is much better. Much more intense to say the least. 

Director Peter Medak proved himself to be a great storyteller more than once already. I remember the Krays biography to be very good and Romeo is Bleeding too. The Changeling belongs to his earlier work but still is one of his best films. A respected musician, Russel, loses both his wife and daughter in a terrible road accident. Only 4 moths later, he accepts a new job at a university and he moves into a new and very large house. Right after Russel moves in, the house starts to act strange. Weird and disturbing noises wake him up in the morning and he discovers a secret attic, with a mysterious wheelchair and music box in it. Russel is intrigued by these objects and, seeing that the secret room belonged to a young child, he feels related because of what happened to his own daughter. He starts to dig deeper and more intense. To find out more about the whole case, he even holds a séance to get in contact with the mysterious child. This particular scene is really breathtaking, I assure you. Actually, the whole evolution of the horrifying house is breathtaking. It really gives you the creeps. George C. Scott gives away an excellent performance. When he loses his family at the beginning of the movie, you can really feel his pain. George was one of the greatest actors who ever lived and he was able to carry a complete movie all by himself, like he did here. If you like his acting as well, you should really check out the Changeling.  

Shiiiiiiiiiiiit!

The haunted house.

An essential viewing for those who like haunted house movies; especially if you like slow build and genuine mystery as well. 

Here's the trailer: