Plot: What’s it about?
John Russell (George C. Scott) has just moved into a massive old mansion, which has held no residents for some time. Russell used to have a loving wife and daughter, but now he is alone in life and tries to just make it through each day. His loved ones were taken from him in a tragic car accident, with his life never being the same after that. No matter how hard he has tried, Russell simply hasn’t been able to move on and leave the past behind him. Now he has retired to this huge and eerie mansion, where he will spend his remaining days in seclusion. He thinks within this place he can find the inner peace he needs, since no outside forces are present to distract him. So Russell is all alone in this massive mansion…or is he? At first everything seems in order and normal, but soon Russell starts to notice strange things and hear unusual noises. These acts are minor at first, but slowly become more and more prominent. To Russell, it seems as though someone (or something) is trying to tell him something, but he is unable to understand what the message is. He is determined to learn what the force wants him to know, but even with extensive research and paranormal experts, will he ever really know the truth about his new home?
I frequent many discussion boards about DVD and as such, I know how much fans have wanted this film to reach our beloved format. Now those wishes have been granted as HBO Home Video issued The Changeling, though not with the supplements I had hoped for. The disc looks better than ever and sounds good, but no real extras have been included. Still, the film alone is more than worth the low asking price and as such, this is an easy recommendation. This is simply one of the finest ghost stories to ever grace the screen and few can even come close to this level. Recent efforts such as The Haunting, House On Haunted Hill, and The Sixth Sense have offered popcorn value, but failed to capture the same level of spookiness and eeriness this film has. This movie doesn’t use too many cheap scares, focusing more on atmosphere and true suspense to scare the viewer and I think it works, at least on me. If you’re a fan of horror flicks, mysteries, suspense/thrillers, or ghost stories, this one you will not want to miss.
This film has several terrific performances, but George C. Scott’s work here is simply amazing at times and as such, he takes the cake in The Changeling. Scott has always been known as a superb actor and this role is yet another example of his skills. In a film like this you need solid and reserved acting, which is just what Scott delivers. He always seem to be in the right vein here, never getting too emotional, but showing enough of it to seem realistic. His work enhances the eerie nature of the film and I don’t think many others could have handed in such a riveting performance. Other excellent performances from Scott can be seen in such movies as Patton, They Might Be Giants, The Flim-Flam Man, Dr. Strangelove, Anatomy Of A Murder, and The Hustler. The cast here also includes Melvyn Douglas (Ghost Story, The Candidate), Jean Marsh (Willow, Return To Oz), Roberta Maxwell (Last Night, Philadelphia), Barry Morse (Running Scared, Thunder Rock), John Colicos (Passport To Treason, Scorpio), and Trish Van Devere (The Savage Is Loose, The Last Run). The Changeling was directed by Peter Medak, who also helmed such films as Species II, Ghost In The Noonday Sun, The Ruling Class, Romeo Is Bleeding, Pontiac Moon.
Video: How does it look?
The Changeling is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is a very good transfer that does a noble task with the source materials, but age and condition hold this one back from greatness. The main issue is the grain present, which is heavy at times and can hamper the overall visual quality to a certain degree. But the image still emerges in nice shape and I am pleased to say, is the best version of this film you’ll find. The colors seem natural and well balanced, while contrast is stark and usually displays a high level of detail. If you’re a fan of this movie, then this disc is the quality release you’ve been wanting for some time now.
Audio: How does it sound?
This film contains some nice chances for eerie audio to add to the atmosphere, most of which the included track takes advantage of. Now since this isn’t a full 5.1 option the audio isn’t as immersive as it could be, but some nice directional use can be found here and there. So the sound effects come across well, but the music…this is where this mix falters. The music is clean and clear, but lacks any type or range or movement, which limits just how effective it is. This is some terrific scoring to be sure, but this mix just doesn’t give it the respect it deserves. The dialogue is well placed though and sounds very good, no volume issues arise in the least. This is a decent audio presentation, but an eerie classic like this deserves much better. This disc also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc contains some rather extensive talent files, but no other bonus materials.
