The Changeling
Seen it?1980 | 107 min | Horror
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It earned strong reviews (85% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest, despite soft box office. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for horror fans. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Scary.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 47 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
After a tragic event happens, composer John Russell moves to Seattle to try to overcome it and build a new and peaceful life in a lonely big house that has been uninhabited for many years. But, soon after, the obscure history of such an old mansion and his own past begin to haunt him.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
85% on Rotten Tomatoes, 70 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.0 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
11 wins and 4 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$12 million worldwide on a $8 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 179K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Peter Medak
- George C. ScottJohn Russell
- Trish Van DevereClaire Norman
- Melvyn DouglasSenator Carmichael
- John ColicosCaptain DeWitt
- Barry MorseParapsychologist
- Madeleine SherwoodMrs. Norman
- Helen BurnsLeah Harmon
- Eric ChristmasAlbert Harmon
- Frances HylandMrs. Grey
- Ruth SpringfordMinnie Huxley