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The Changeling ~ Film Review
The Changeling is about the past. It deals with past crimes and a house way past its prime. Sadly, this film seems as decrepit and worn down as the house itself. It’s hard to ignore its historical value and its importance to horror movies, but it’s also hard to deal with the predictability and lack of scare factor this movie has.
The film begins with Dr. John Russell going on a family trip with his wife and daughter. While making a call to get help with their broken-down car, a crash ensues that results in the death of his wife and child. This traumatizes Russell and causes him to move to Seattle in order to start fresh. The viewer feels as if Russell is genuinely struggling to get over his grief. Since he is a skilled composer, he uses his trade as a way to pick himself up again and begins to teach at the local college. Russell also rents a historical house so he can have peace and quiet to work on his music. The viewer soon realizes there is a ghost in the house and there is a need to be scared. Unfortunately, the lead character doesn’t even seem that worried about what is going on.
George C. Scott plays Dr. Russell and for all intents and purposes does a great job acting the part. He is lovable and charming but seems to underplay the things going on around him. He seems to be having more fun with the creepy things happening around him rather than being scared and…
