The Changeling is one of those rare movies that's genuinely scary without resorting to tons of special effects. There's nary a zombie, beheading, machete, spurting artery, or spinning head in sight, but none of those cheap thrills is necessary in the least. This is an old fashioned ghost story, a campfire tale on film.
George C. Scott (a wonderful serious actor) is John Russell, a successful composer who moves to Seattle after the tragic deaths of his wife and daughter. His first order of business is to find a place to live, a house large enough to house his piano, and remote enough that his late night musical creative frenzies won't disturb the neighbors. Enter Claire Norman, a volunteer at the historical society, with access to some wonderful houses for rent. Claire finds the perfect home for John, a huge, sprawling Victorian mansion that has been standing empty for twenty years. The fact that the house has a separate music room and a piano sells John on the house, and he moves in.
The very next morning, John is awakened at six A.M. by a very loud, rhythmic, metallic banging noise. Before he can find the source, it stops. While exploring the house, he finds an attic doorway sealed shut. Being understandably curious, John breaks the lock and heads for the attic, where he finds a child's room, dusty and abandoned since 1906. More odd occurrences happen, leading John to investigate the history of the house and its former occupants. The more John learns, the more frequently the eerie noises and events happen in his home. In desperation, he finally calls a team of psychics into the house, where the truth begins to unfold. While listening to the recording he made during the seance, John is horrified to hear the voice of a small child pleading for help.
Determined to get to the truth, and put the child's spirit to rest, John embarks on a quest that pits him against the police, the historical society, and a high ranking government official.
Scott is a wonderful actor, not known for taking roles in crappy movies. The Changeling is no exception. Scott is completely believable as a man with a mission, going from fear, to curiosity, to a desire for justice. Trish Van Devere makes a perfect Claire, elegant, and beautiful in a timeless way. Claire supports John every step of the way, happily lending him a hand even though she doubts his sanity at first.
If you're tired of getting your chills from a man in a hockey mask, or a steel tipped leather glove, check out The Changeling. It's a truly creepy little film that relies on sound and simple things to provide the chills. You'll never look at a child's bouncing ball or music box the same way again.
George C. Scott becomes the unwilling instrument of a ghost s revenge in this supernatural thriller. A superior haunted house thriller. (Variety)Runni...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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