Rent The Changeling (1980)
3.6 of 5 from 170 ratings
1h 42min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- John Russell (George C. Scott) has been haunted by the horrific death of his wife and child for months. A change of lifestyle and a move to Seattle may be the only way to escape the visions that torment him. With the help of a woman, Claire Norman (Trish Van Devere), a local historian, he moves into an old mansion and begins a new job. But before his life can completely heal, John Russell is plagued by a peculiar string of events, leading him to the discovery of a hidden attic room and a troubled presence that lies within. Consumed with a need to discover the truth of the hidden room, John must right an injustice from long ago.
- Actors:
- Trish Van Devere, Melvyn Douglas, George C. Scott, Jean Marsh, John Colicos, Barry Morse, Madeleine Sherwood, Helen Burns, Frances Hyland, Ruth Springford, Eric Christmas, Roberta Maxwell, Bernard Behrens, James B. Douglas, J. Kenneth Campbell, Chris Gampel, Voldi Way, Michelle Martin, Janne Mortil, Terence Kelly
- Directors:
- Peter Medak
- Producers:
- Garth H. Drabinsky, Joel B. Michaels
- Writers:
- Russell Hunter, William Gray, Diana Maddox
- Aka:
- House on Chessman Park / The Secret Hostage
- Studio:
- Momentum
- Genres:
- Classics, Horror, Thrillers
- Collections:
- Films That Go Bump in the Night: All Hallows' Eve, Horror, The Film Highlights of 1980, Top 10 Films By Year
- Countries:
- Canada
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 13/08/2018
- Run Time:
- 107 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English LPCM Stereo
- Subtitles:
- None
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.85:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- (0) All
- Bonus:
- Audio commentary with director Peter Medak and producer Joel B. Michaels moderated by Severin Films' David Gregory
- 'The House on Cheesman Park': The Haunting True Story of The Changeling
- 'The Music of The Changeling: Interview with Music Arranger Kenneth Wannberg
- 'Building the House of Horror': Interview with, Art Director Reuben Freed
- 'The Psychotronic Tourist': The Changeling
- 'Master of Horror Mick Garris on The Changeling
- Trailer
- TV Spot
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 05/06/2023
- Run Time:
- 107 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English LPCM Stereo
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- DVD Regions:
- Region 0 (All)
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.85:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- (0) All
- Bonus:
- Audio Commentary with Director Peter Medak and Producer Joel B. Michaels
- Interview with Peter Medak by filmmaker Adrián García Bogliano at Mórbido Fest 2018
- Exile on Curzon St. - Peter Medak on his early years in swinging London
- The House on Cheesman Park - The Haunting True Story of The Changeling
- Audio commentary with Actors Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger and Paul A. Partain, and Art Director Robert A. Burns
- The Music of The Changeling - an interview with Music Arranger Kenneth Wannberg
- Building the House Of Horror - an interview with Art Director Reuben Freed
- The Psychotronic Tourist
- Master of horror Mick Garris on The Changeling
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Reviews (4) of The Changeling
Messes with the mind - The Changeling review by CP Customer
This film is from the 1980s so you may have a laugh at the fashions.
This film is well scripted, no blood and guts like most films but more psychological than anything else.
It is such a good film as it keeps you interested at every step of the way - you have to keep watching to see how it pans out.
I will not spoil any plot because I think it ruins it for the viewer, but it's to do with something that happened in the house in the 1900's.
There is one particular scene that reminds me a little of Stanley Kubrick's film The Shining starring Jack Nicholson.
You will have to watch it to find out what happens.
2 out of 3 members found this review helpful.
Yet another haunted house - The Changeling review by AS
George C Scott lends his weighty presence to a run-of-the-mill spooky house tale. His major movie star status began to wane around this time and his later career shifted to television, albeit with some great performances. His real-life wife Trish van Devere joins him here, but this is not a good thing: she's an attractive lady but her acting is strictly by-numbers TV fare, and she adds no character to the proceedings. The scares are nothing new - dark staircases, empty rooms, self-motivating furniture, noisy plumbing. The ending is completely over the top. Worth a look for ghost story lovers.
1 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
A quietly unsettling film. - The Changeling review by NP
This is a quietly unsettling film, directed very much in the style of a TV movie. It really ramps up the tension at the halfway mark, following a séance to determine the cause of the haunting that is rattling John Russell, played by an excellent George C Scott.
A question that remains with me after watching this is - if the spirit is so powerful, why does it need Russell’s help? Equally unclear is the actual ending of the film, involving Sen. Joseph Carmichael (played by another wonderful veteran Melvyn Douglas) in his final scene (no major spoilers here!).
For a film to be open to suggestion is not a problem for me, especially when the whole experience is as good as this. Minimal horror effects go to prove that if done right (and director Peter Medak certainly knows how to do that), a palpably uneasy atmosphere is enough. My score is 7 out of 10.
1 out of 2 members found this review helpful.