The Changeling

The Changeling (1980)

Directed by: Peter Medak
Written by: William Gray & Diana Maddox
Starring: George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere (surprise surprise), Melvyn Douglas, Joan Marsh

A fairly decent Haunted House movie, and I've seen a few. About a man who moves into an old, spooky house recently after his wife and daughter died, and begins being pestered by the ghost of a dead boy inhabiting the house.

It has the feel of some of those Japanese ghost movies that have been so popular lately, and I predict a remake. They wait roughly three decades before remaking these movies, by my calculations, so it's probably coming.

It seems like the quiet type of horror film, kind of slow and broody, with very minimal use of gore, and scare scenes. Almost like it's made for old people. I don't mind. I appreciate that kind of thing.

I liked the house. I thought it was very nice, and it's really the kind of house (well, mansion, actually) that I so desire. Ah, to be rich. Oh well.

There are a few creepy scenes, including the famous one of an empty wheelchair chasing a woman down a set of stairs. Still, it's fairly relaxed, and mellow.

It's got some pretty good actors in it, too (I like Melvyn Douglas quite a bit, just from watching Being There, actually) and it was made in beautiful Canada! O! Canada! Our home and native land! Sorry, I just really like Canada.

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