{"id":25396,"date":"2012-04-20T11:00:23","date_gmt":"2012-04-20T18:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=25396"},"modified":"2020-12-19T12:45:00","modified_gmt":"2020-12-19T19:45:00","slug":"changeling-the-1980","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=25396","title":{"rendered":"Changeling, The (1980)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;That house is not fit to live in. No one&#8217;s been able to live in it. It doesn&#8217;t want people.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Poster-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-25397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Poster-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Poster-83x128.jpg 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Poster-671x1024.jpg 671w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Poster.jpg 984w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA recently widowed composer (George C. Scott) moves into a house haunted by the ghost of an unhappy child, whose tragic death is somehow linked to that of an aging senator (Melvyn Douglas).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>George C. Scott<\/li>\n<li>Ghosts<\/li>\n<li>Horror<\/li>\n<li>Melvyn Douglas Films<\/li>\n<li>Old Dark House<\/li>\n<li>Widows and Widowers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThis atmospheric haunted house flick by director Peter Medak is based on a genuinely disturbing premise (don&#8217;t read too much about it online if you want to remain surprised), but is poorly paced and takes far too long to build momentum. In addition, Medak relies too heavily on both wide-angle and low-angle shots &#8212; the latter presumably to make us feel we&#8217;re consistently viewing the action from the perspective of a (buried?) child, but it quickly feels derivative and overly stylized. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Perspective.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Perspective-1024x579.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"362\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-58485\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Perspective-1024x579.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Perspective-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Perspective-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Perspective-768x434.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Perspective-1536x869.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Perspective-477x270.png 477w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Perspective.png 1819w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Scott is typically fine (if perhaps a tad too stalwart) in the lead role:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Scott.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Scott-1024x571.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"357\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-58487\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Scott-1024x571.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Scott-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Scott-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Scott-768x428.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Scott-1536x857.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Scott-484x270.png 484w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Scott.png 1823w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>and his real-life wife (Trish Van Devere) registers an appropriate level of mounting trepidation as Scott&#8217;s realtor and amateur-sleuthing-partner (though their relationship remains frustratingly opaque). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Van-Devere3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Van-Devere3-1024x557.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"348\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-58488\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Van-Devere3-1024x557.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Van-Devere3-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Van-Devere3-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Van-Devere3-768x418.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Van-Devere3-1536x835.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Van-Devere3-497x270.png 497w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Van-Devere3.png 1819w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, this one is really only must-see for fans of the genre, who will likely enjoy the intermittent chills and thrills it provides.  Best scene: the genuinely freaky seance, which suddenly and effectively shifts the film into high gear. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Some moments of genuinely creepy terror<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Seance-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Seance-1-1024x569.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"356\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-58486\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Seance-1-1024x569.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Seance-1-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Seance-1-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Seance-1-768x427.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Seance-1-1536x854.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Seance-1-486x270.png 486w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Seance-1-1038x576.png 1038w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Changeling-Seance-1.png 1815w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo; this one is only must-see for fans of the genre, though others may be curious to at least check it out. Listed as a Sleeper in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0080516\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/the-changeling-1980\">Roger Ebert&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=608&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/moria.co.nz\/horror\/changeling-1980.htm\">SF, Fantasy, and Horror Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;That house is not fit to live in. No one&#8217;s been able to live in it. It doesn&#8217;t want people.&#8221; Synopsis: A recently widowed composer (George C. Scott) moves into a house haunted by the ghost of an unhappy child, whose tragic death is somehow linked to that of an aging senator (Melvyn Douglas). Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: George C. Scott Ghosts Horror Melvyn Douglas Films Old Dark House Widows and Widowers Review: This atmospheric haunted house flick by&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=25396\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25396","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25396","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25396"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25396\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58489,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25396\/revisions\/58489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25396"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25396"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25396"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}