What can be said? Maybe: If you haven't seen "The Changeling" (1980), then how can you approach any ghost story made after? Would it be a stretch to say that if it wasn't for this film, the soundtrack of horror would have evolved entirely differently? The Japanese hair ghosts would never have been as scary? Films like "Insidious" or "Poltergeist" might never have been made? Well, maybe that is a stretch, but I think it's safe to say that all those films owe a blood lineage to "The Changeling" because it set the bar, it wrote the rulebook and it scared the shit out of a generation.

I really liked that this played more like a conspiracy thriller than a horror movie for most of the run time. Pretty good.

Hadn't seen this in years, and forgot how much I love this movie! Slow-burning, but very effective ghost/haunted house story. That ball coming down the stairs gets me every time!

An excellent use of atmospheric horror, this ghost story has so much going for it. As the mystery of the ghost and why he haunts the house unfolds, a new riddle must be solved to put him to rest. With George C. Scott in the lead and cinematography that will remind you of "The Shining," this one is well worth revisiting.

I throughly enjoyed this one, though to be fair myenjoyment was more academic, than visceral. Very intriguing to see George C Scott play a broken man.

“That house is not fit to live in. No one's been able to live in it. It doesn't want people.”

Like so many movies from this period, it is a bit slow and ponderous. This is a rather standard haunted house story which is really not that original. The scares in this movie are probably a bit tame by todays standards, but some scenes really gave me the creeps.

Conclusion: A well made but at times a bit boring haunted house movie.

The Changeling is a serviceable ghost story that is slightly elevated by an excellent performance by George C. Scott. Although the plot gets in the way a bit during the second half, the horror elements in the film are expertly handled throughout.

It's an interesting coincidence that two haunted house films that prominently feature bouncing balls came out in the same year.

I really liked that this played more like a conspiracy thriller than a horror movie for most of the run time. Pretty good.

An excellent use of atmospheric horror, this ghost story has so much going for it. As the mystery of the ghost and why he haunts the house unfolds, a new riddle must be solved to put him to rest. With George C. Scott in the lead and cinematography that will remind you of "The Shining," this one is well worth revisiting.

This week Cory and John [producer] whether Hurricane Sandy as they review a couple of haunted house movies in celebration of Halloween! Check out what they had to say about Don't Be Afraid of the Dark and The Changeling.

All this and for some reason the conversation keeps being drawn to the summoning of boners, pianists, fist-fighting third graders, and being black out drunk. Perfect material for a Halloween extravaganza!

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63/100
El final de una película de terror lo puede arreglar todo.

Režisoram Pīteram Medakam ir izdevies radīt filmu, kura vēlāk ir iedvesmojusi nākamos trilleru un šausmu kino veidotājus. Sākotnējais mājas miers un senlaicīgais skaistums lēnām un nepārvarāmi pielīst ar netveramu baiļu atmosfēru. Iespējams, jau pārdzīvotais sievas un bērna zaudējums ir notrulinājis galvenā varoņa šausmu izjūtu, jo ātri kļūst skaidrs, ka agrāk mājā dzīvojošais bērns ir miris vardarbīgā nāvē un šobrīd vēlas kādu sodīt un atjaunot taisnīgumu. Lai arī izpaliek mūsdienu specefekti, spoka manifestācijas ir tiešām biedējošas – dīvaini, cik ļoti var nobīties no lēkājošas bumbiņas un maza ratiņkrēsla.

Un comprensible clásico del cine de terror. Es elegante, hipnótica, misteriosa y, sobre todo, terrorífica. Muchas obras posteriores han imitado (sin poder alcanzarla) su sabia y efectiva combinación de drama, thriller de investigación, atmósfera oscura y tensión irresistible, con memorables momentos. Otro de sus alicientes es el entregado protagonismo del soberbio George C.Scott