George C. Scott can chew a scene like no one other, and I absolutely love him for it. Scott was the lone bright spot in an otherwise abysmal “The Exorcist III” but his horror debut actually came a decade prior in “The Changeling.”
This 1980 Canadian film was directed by Peter Medrak, who managed to do a ton of things in his career and yet also do nothing. Medrak helms this standard haunted house story, with ups and downs along the way.
John Russell (George C. Scott) is meandering through life aimlessly in the wake of a tragedy. He’s a music teacher and composer, and relocates to Seattle, at a time before that city was cool.
George C. Scott rules
George C. Scott is such a great talent to behold. That gruff voice and grizzled demeanor make him an interesting choice for the role of John Russell. We can tell this is a manly man. An old school guy who drinks his Sanka black, and has no time for spooky noises in the night. I love the visuals of a 50-year-old protagonist in a horror story. It lends to the believability that ghosts wouldn’t always be drawn to stupid college kids.
I laughed out loud when John Russell moves to his new place. A converted loft in Seattle’s thriving marina district? Hardly. It’s a clearly haunted mansion secluded from the city and surrounded by bleakness. The house has several floors and seemingly hundreds of rooms. It’s not the type of place a single guy would choose, but oh well.
Trish Van Devere plays Claire Norman; the head of the historical society who leases the house. She’s fine as a secondary character.
“The Changeling” is a haunted house story with a mystery. Unfortunately, the mystery aspect at times gets in the way of the horror. Its 107 minutes which is the max amount it could be. I loved the atmosphere – its 1980 for Christ sake – and you get the works. Baggy clothes, boxy cars and vice versa.
My biggest complaint?
“The Changeling” has some of the scariest scenes and moments I have found. Which is saying a lot. The horror scenes are shockingly visceral, and will send a chill down your spine. The problem is all of them are ruined by the abysmal score. Successful music accompanies a film, but should never overtake it.
Here, we have a near constant sound playing at moments where dead silence would have been perfect. Not only is the choice wrong at times, it also seems too loud. At one point, a crashing cadence is heard, and I literally couldn’t tell if it was something the character heard or was just part of the soundtrack.
If you have never watched “The Changeling” it’s worth checking out. It has some scares, some atmosphere, and the great George C. Scott. It probably won’t land on your DVD shelf, but is a good start for Halloween Movie Season!
“The Changeling” can be rented on Amazon
