Not to be confused with the more recent Angelina Jolie drama - this 1980 ghost story is another of those classic haunted house scenario's starring George C. Scott as a composer who moves to a big, old creaky Victorian house in Seattle after losing his wife and son to a terrible road accident. Scott, who plays John Russell, attempts to put his life back together but is soon aware that he's not home alone. The house is haunted by the unhappy soul of a young boy who was murdered, and to get Russell's attention he plays the usual array of haunted house tricks, i.e. shattering windows, bumps in the night, a ball bouncing down the stairs seemingly of its own accord etc. Thankfully Russell isn't frightened to the point of fleeing and so curious is he by the apparition that he delves into the mystery linking the murder to a wealthy family with links to the senator of the United States.
The ghost of the film seeks justice and draws in John Russell to solve the mystery, resulting in a reasonably complex plot and a half-decent climax. As ghost stories go, despite employing the usual scares 'The Changeling' is quite a spooky little number that now seems ahead of its time considering the amount of dreadful haunted house films doing the rounds these days. As expected, the acting is excellent, making 'The Changeling' perfect viewing for a Halloween night by the fire.
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