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IMDb > The Changeling (1980)
The Changeling
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The Changeling (1980) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   7,081 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 16% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Russell Hunter (story)
William Gray (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Changeling on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
28 March 1980 (USA) more
Tagline:
...an experience beyond total fear. more
Plot:
A man staying at a secluded historical mansion, finds his life being haunted by the presence of a spectre. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
10 wins & 4 nominations more
User Comments:
Nice and Spooky more (235 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

George C. Scott ... John Russell
Trish Van Devere ... Claire Norman

Melvyn Douglas ... Senator Carmichael

Jean Marsh ... Joanna Russell
John Colicos ... Captain DeWitt
Barry Morse ... Parapsychologist
Madeleine Sherwood ... Mrs. Norman (as Madeleine Thornton-Sherwood)
Helen Burns ... Leah Harmon
Frances Hyland ... Mrs. Grey
Ruth Springford ... Minnie Huxley
Eric Christmas ... Albert Harmon
Roberta Maxwell ... Eva Lingstrom
Bernard Behrens ... Robert Lingstrom
James B. Douglas ... Eugene Carmichael

J. Kenneth Campbell ... Security Guard
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
L'enfant du diable (Canada: French title)
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Runtime:
107 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Censorship certificate in Spain: 14. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: After John Russell discovers the secret stairs he gets to a room with an open door. When he looks into the room, the camera moves back and reveals a shadow of a human head disappearing on the left side of the screen. Either this is fully intentional by the filmmaker or it's a shadow of a crew member. This occurs approximately 34:32 (min.) into the film. more
Quotes:
De Witt: I understand you lost your wife and daughter a little while ago. Maybe it shook you up. Maybe too much... *Maybe*, you need help.
John Russell: I'd like you to leave now...
De Witt: [making his threat a bit more clear] We can see that you get it... do you understand what I'm saying?
John Russell: [points to the door] Out! Now!
De Witt: [pressing] Listen to me, Russell! You've got something of the Senator's... he wants it back. It's a little gold medal, a family heirloom, he lost it. He thinks *you've* got it.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Ringu (1998) more
Soundtrack:
Symphony #1 in C minor, Opus 68 more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
33 out of 35 people found the following comment useful.
Nice and Spooky, 7 December 2003
Author: Gafke from United States

This is one of my all time favorite ghost stories, right up there with "The Innocents," "The Haunting" and "Ringu."

George C. Scott plays John, a famous pianist and composer who has lost his wife and young daughter in a freak car accident. Grief stricken and heartbroken, he moves to Washington state and rents a wonderful old Gothic mansion. Surprise surprise! It's haunted.

This movie has everything. Dark, spooky stairways draped with dusty cobwebs, a boarded up room with a terrible secret, a shadowy seance scene, ghostly voices and frightening noises that echo through the huge house, political intrigue and a very solid looking ghost who scares the absolute hell out of anyone he shows himself to. It boasts a well thought out plot with several great twists and a very angry murder victim, who doesn't want to be at peace - he just wants revenge, and boy does he get it.

Fans of "Ringu" will enjoy this tale of murder, ghostly revenge and bodies thrown down wells. Just watch it, preferably on a dark and stormy night with all the lights turned off. I dare you.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Changeling (1980)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The boy's voice : creepy, adorable, or annoying? ringmastr3
Which one? jkholman
Little disappointed, anyone else? Not really that creepy... Winjas
George C.Scott was Fantastic!!! thiscrazydancer
Actor playing blonde EMT in the last scene? silence_of_the_world
biggest goof kevincory
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