‘The Changeling’ (1980): A chilling ghost story (review)

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1980 Canadian horror film “The Changeling” stars George C. Scott and Trish Van Devere. Complete with masterful effects, exquisite set design, and strong acting performances, “The Changeling” delivers a suspenseful narrative. It’s a gripping tale where the most haunting elements subtly seep into the story.

Composer John Russell (George C. Scott) witnesses the tragic deaths of his wife and daughter while on a trip in upstate New York. Following this accident, Russell moves to Seattle, Washington where he assumes a teaching post at a university. Through friend and local historic society agent Claire Norman (Trish Van Devere), Russell finds a sprawling Victorian mansion to rent.Shortly after moving into the mansion, John notices strange happenings. Each morning, a banging sound emanates throughout the house. One evening, Russell discovers the water taps turned on, and witnesses the vision of a drowned boy in the bathtub. Though his concerns are dismissed as merely quirks of an aging house, Russell initiates his own investigation. During a search of the house, John uncovers a secret attic bedroom. Within, there’s a child’s wheelchair. Confiding in Claire, the pair begin probing the supernatural events plaguing the mansion. Their exploration unearths a connection to U.S. Senator Joseph Carmichael, and a potential sinister conspiracy.

From the onset, “The Changeling” ushers in a creepy, ominous vibe. The looming Victorian-era mansion emerges eerily out of the Seattle landscape. As the narrative progresses, otherworldly events slowly build to a resounding crescendo. The escalation begins with strange noises, progressing to visual sightings.

Like 1978’s “The Manitou,” “The Changeling” assumes an investigatory format bordering on noir. John and Claire pair up for unofficial detective work. Largely, the duo slog through historical records. However, as in “The Manitou,” there’s a delightfully bizarre seance scene. Amusingly, there’s a total lack of skepticism when Russell holds a seance.

Though 1980 supernatural horror film “The Changeling” features ghost story overtones, the truly terrifying elements surface through human actions. On the surface, it’s a straightforward genre flick. Yet, the horror derives from the human, rather than supernatural, characters. Therefore, “The Changeling” offers a unique quality, similar to “The Legacy” in its focus on choice rather than control.

Technically, “The Changeling” is a masterpiece. The always-on George C. Scott plays a distraught but determined Russell who channels grief into resolve. Trish Van Devere, who married Scott in 1972, portrays Claire Norman in as a genuine friend, eager to join the investigation. Cinematography is superb, with inventive shots peppering the film: a slow pan which zooms in on an audio recorder, an overhead shot peering curiously through tree branches at subjects below. Rick Wilkins and Kenneth Wannberg handle the soundtrack which shines with warbling strings, creepy lullaby numbers, and prancing piano melodies.

However, as a horror movie there’s a distinct lack of suspense. Perhaps it’s the methodical, grounded way that Scott’s Russell approaches the supernatural sights and sounds. His academic analysis his demeanor, generally composed aside from obligatory enraged Scott scene, reduce potentially frightening elements.

Nevertheless, 1980 supernatural horror film “The Changeling” delivers gripping narrative. With its exquisite acting, cinematography, and score paired with a haunting plot, it’s a film which lingers long after the final credits roll.