The Changeling
(1980)
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This horror story stars George C. Scott as a music teacher who loses his family in a car accident and moves to Seattle in hopes of starting a new life in a grand old mansion. Unfortunately, his new home turns out to be haunted by the troublesome ghost of a murdered child bent on revenge after 70 years of torment. |
A satisfying twist on an old staple, the haunted house movie. George C Scott is a recently widowed composer who moves into an old house in Seattle (played by Vancouver) run by the local historic society. Before long, the house starts croaking, juddering and generally behaving badly. With the help of local historian Trish Van Devere (Scott's then real-life wife), a century-old murder is discovered; there are further shocks in store, all neatly handled by Hungarian-born director Peter Medak, who sensibly refuses to let the special effects get the upper hand.