THE CHANGELING (1980): ONE OF THE BEST GHOST STORIES EVER MADE!!

THE CHANGELING (1980) d. Peter Medak (Canada)

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Tonight we’re discussing The Changeling (1980), Peter Medak’s stellar haunted house tale which usually takes a back seat to the big-budget envisioning of Stephen King’s The Shining, released the same year. But in many ways, this small Canadian film, loaded with creepy atmosphere and tightly fashioned suspense sequences, surpasses the ax-swinging histrionics that Kubrick and Co. dish out.

As grieving composer John Russell, recovering from the deaths of his wife and daughter, George C. Scott anchors the picture with a compelling strength and vulnerability. Roused by a murdered child’s spirit in the Seattle mansion where he has retreated, Russell’s utter conviction with which he seeks to uncover the mystery is riveting. There’s also the neat subplot of Melyvn Douglas’ duplicitous politician, whose backstory proves more and more integral to the house’s healing.

William Gray and Diana Maddox craft a marvelous script (based on musician Russell Hunter’s real-life story), and Medak (The Ruling Class, Species II, Zorro the Gay Blade), whose films don’t always indicate the most subtle of sensibilities, is absolutely the man for the job, creating and sustaining incredible tension throughout as well as delivering marvelous moments of release.

The film made a huge smash at the Genie Awards, Canada’s version of the Oscars, winning Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Screenplay, Cinematography, Production Design, and two awards for Sound, yet has mysteriously still not achieved the same mythic status as other classic haunted house stories. But once experienced, you’ll never look at a red rubber ball or antique wheelchair the same way again.

Join AC and his awesome panel of guests (Aaron AuBuchon, John W. Bowen, Jon Kitley, Steven Peros, Gert Verbeeck) as we celebrate 45 years of THE CHANGELING!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKM21dhFI3A

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