The Changeling
The Changeling
The Changeling (Second Sight Films) 2NDBR4183
Director Peter Medak’s standout 1980 horror ‘The Changeling’ is at last getting the full 4K restoration treatment, available on UHD/BluRay as from 5th June, to rekindle the fires of old fans and find a whole new audience.
The story is classic European folklore transplanted to the USA, a little detective work story to engage the audience and using time honoured tricks to get the viewer’s fright index rising. Distinguished composer John Russell (George C. Scott) loses his wife and daughter in a tragic car accident, and relocates to Seattle, hoping his new, different surroundings will bring renewed hope. Friendly estate agent Claire Norman (Trish van Devere) recommends a house for him to live and work in, and he loves the vast property at first sight. Still a little dusty from its long period of vacancy, beautifully furnished, decorated and remarkably cheap to rent, Russell moves in and begins to put his stamp on the sprawling mansion.
Honeymoon period over, the house begins to put its own stamp on its new occupier. Mysterious, sudden screams are let out and footsteps are heard on the staircase while Russell sits at his piano, composing. An investigation by the handyman concludes that the old, self-willed heating system is probably to blame, and he adjusts it as best he can. After all, an old house has habits.
Needless to say, the strange and increasingly loud noises continue, and Russell feels drawn to investigate personally. Given the vast number of rooms in the spacious pile, this could represent a major time investment, but Russell feels drawn to the upper floors, finding a flight of stairs behind a door within a seemingly forgotten cupboard. The masterly use of shadow and suggestion throughout the film separates it from more usual fare, and even when it uses time-worn cliches like the forgotten wing of an old house, the sounds and shadows do their job of raising the goosebumps.
The room is naturally locked, but after a few shoulder charges it gives way, and we are let into a junk-strewn room that has at some point been a child’s bedroom. You can almost smell the musty atmosphere of this depressing cobwebbed garret, made all the more affecting by the discovery of a child-sized wheelchair and bath in a corner.
Russell decides to do a little research about the house, helped by his estate agent friend, but are hampered by an officious, elderly jobsworth at the historical archive. The discovery of a disabled child’s death at the time the house was owned by a local grandee piques Russell’s interest. The possibility of a spirit attempting to communicate with this traumatised man gets an early introduction, and it’s not long before Russell enlists the help of a psychic, who, he is told by Dr. Pemberton of the Psychic Research Institute (Barry Morse in an interesting cameo) that she is one of the 1% who are not outright frauds. A full-scale séance ensues, with table turning, rapping and automatic writing from our psychic, messages apparently coming from the spirit of the dead boy.
The pace doesn’t slacken for the full 115 minutes, and the above is only a taster of what’s to come. Old horror fans will recognise the nods to ‘The Haunting’ (loud knocking, rattling door handles) and ‘The Shining’ (a very creepy, returning bouncing ball) but these classic tropes are done in such a way as to complement, and not define the story. Performances are excellent throughout; Trish van deVere’s is a real charmer, and helpful too, so much so that it’s hard to believe she is an estate agent. Jean Marsh gets a cameo as Russell’s wife, killed off in the first few minutes, unfortunately.
The disks on offer have many extras, including material on the true story on which the drama is based, and interviews with the director and other important figures involved with the film. Stephen King describes ‘The Changeling’ as a favourite of his, and I can think of no higher recommendation for a horror film. The Changeling is a far cry from the tedious, effects laden horrors of today, and shows what can be done armed with a traditional story, high calibre actors and expert sound and light.
Scenester
25/5/23
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