Friday, October 4, 2013

31(ish) Horror Films in 31 Days: Day 4 - The Changeling (1980)



It seems as though yesterday's chaos is spilling over into today and I'm left with only a short amount of time and that time involves little children. Needless to say...I won't be watching a horror film this day. I could probably watch one after they've gone to bed but I wouldn't 'have time to also write a review of it.

So, I've decided that on days like this, I will utilize this soapbox to review/recommend some of my favorite horror films that I think everyone should take the time to watch if they haven't already done so.



Entry #4: The Changeling

Not to be confused with Clint Eastwood's Changeling, this film stars George C. Scott as John Russell, a composer who, after losing his wife and child in an automobile accident, decides to move away and bury himself in his music. What he doesn't realize is that the mansion he moves into already has a tortured soul within its walls.

After investigating the matter further and unveiling the tragic history of the old house he becomes obsessed with righting the wrongs from years past.

I don't want to say much more than that as it's best that you experience it for yourself. If you're a fan of the ghost story/haunted house sub-genre of horror you should definitely check this one out. The film was released in 1980 so it doesn't utilize any of the "trickery" that has saturated the market in recent years and made every ghost/haunted house film look like a cookie cutter version of the last one. Instead it creates chills and suspense by masterfully taking advantage of the more subtle techniques of classic horror films and pulling you into the mystery and emotion that the film's story creates.

This is a film best watched at night, with the lights off and with no interruptions. So, turn your cell phones off and put your computers away for a couple of hours. The world will still be there when you get back and it will be a far less interesting world than the one you leave after the credits roll.

Enjoy!!

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