The Changeling
A grieving composer confronts a child’s restless spirit and a powerful family’s buried crimes inside a Seattle mansion.
Overview
A grieving composer uncovers dark secrets in an eerie old mansion, haunted by a child's spirit.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- eerie
- brooding
- melancholic
- late night horror
- rainy day
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a visually polished, atmospheric haunted-house thriller elevated by George C. Scott’s commanding performance, though some found its plot formulaic or insufficiently credible.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
John and Claire use the historical society and séance-related evidence to uncover the mansion's suppressed past.
John's mourning after losing his wife and daughter makes him receptive to the child spirit's demands.
The large isolated turn-of-the-century house, stairways, rooms, and unexplained disturbances generate the film's atmosphere.
A powerful man connected to the house's history guards the answers John and Claire seek.
Films like The Changeling, and why
The Innocents
shared haunted house setting, restrained supernatural dread, buried family secrets, and investigative mystery
The Legend of Hell House
shared isolated mansion, paranormal manifestations, psychological unease, and escalating haunted house suspense
The Amityville Horror
shared domestic haunting, grieving protagonists, sinister hidden history, and supernatural thriller structure
The Others
shared mourning, ghostly revenge, historical secrets, and atmospheric supernatural investigation
Movie Details
- Director
- Peter Medak
- Release Date
- 1980-03-28
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (750)
Cast
- George C. Scott
- Trish Van Devere
- Melvyn Douglas
- John Colicos
- Barry Morse
- Madeleine Sherwood
- Helen Burns
- Eric Christmas
- Frances Hyland
- Ruth Springford
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Night Flight Plus, Screambox Amazon Channel, Eternal Family, Midnight Pulp, Troma NOW, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, IndiePix Unlimited Amazon Channel, Bloodstream, Chilling, Cineverse Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Changeling about?
- A grieving composer confronts a child’s restless spirit and a powerful family’s buried crimes inside a Seattle mansion.
- What is The Changeling like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Changeling as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Changeling violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Changeling as mild.
- What did critics think of The Changeling?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a visually polished, atmospheric haunted-house thriller elevated by George C. Scott’s commanding performance, though some found its plot formulaic or insufficiently credible.
- Which films are like The Changeling?
- Films with a similar feel include The Innocents, The Legend of Hell House, The Amityville Horror, and The Others.
- How long is The Changeling?
- The Changeling runs 107 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Changeling?
- In United States, The Changeling streams on Philo, Night Flight Plus, Screambox Amazon Channel, Eternal Family, Midnight Pulp, Troma NOW, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, IndiePix Unlimited Amazon Channel, Bloodstream, Chilling, Cineverse Amazon Channel.
