The Changeling (1980) - Movie Review

[caption id="attachment_325" align="alignright" width="263"] Official Score = 3 Devils[/caption]

Being a fan of Stephen King books as well as movies I have been pleased for the most part between the transition from book to movie I mean the special effects are oft times fun and in some cases quite chilling to watch, of course the stories are quite amazing (even despite the changes that are made between the book and the movie, and heck, even the talent that they often times get for Stephen King movies are usually quite fun as well, included:

1. Gary Sinise (The Stand)
2. Molly Ringwald (The Stand)
3. Linda Hamilton (Children Of The Corn)
4. Peter Horton (Children Of The Corn)
5. Drew Barrymore (Firestarter, Cat’s Eye)
6. George C. Scott (Firestarter)

And that is just to name a few of them! Now speaking of George C. Scott. A lot of people will most likely place him with such films like Patton (1970), as that is probably his most recognizable movie and probably the most famous movie that he ever did!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] George C. Scott with Drew Barrymore in a scene from, 'Firestarter'![/caption]

The truth is, is that movie probably was a truly fantastic movie, and the truth is, is that I have never actually seen that movie. Also I thought I should mention here, that I like George C. Scott for the work that he did in horror movies… As a matter of fact one of the first movies that I ever saw him in was the movie, Firestarter (1984), and I have been following his work ever since!

And I am proud to announce that there is another horror movie of his that I think may actually be one of his best horror films to date… That movie of course being, The Changling (1980)!

Now in all truth, this movie, which was written by William Gray (Prom Night) and which directed by Peter Medak (Species 2), which was based on the story by Russell Hunter, and also starred, Trish Van Devere (The Day Of The Dolphin), Melvyn Douglas (Hud), and Voldi Way (Boo), despite starting off with an interesting sequence in which John Russell’s (Scott) wife (played by Jean Marsh) and child, (played by Michelle Martin) are killed in the first few minutes of the film, the movie starts off rather dull and unassuming…

But as the movie unfolds and tells the story of how John Russell decides to start a new life in Washington State and is living in a historic home, John Russell comes to learn the secrets of the house and the family secret of Senator Joseph Campbell (Douglas), that both shock and amaze, and change the lives of not just John Russell or the Senator, but also the lives of everyone around them as well!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Joe Campbell has come home![/caption]

Now this movie came out around the time that the interest in paranormal movies was beginning to die out (trust me when I say, ‘what a way to go’!) But I believe that the style in which this movie was made and even to some extent the story for this movie was a direct ancestor to the modern paranormal (and in some cases possession) based horror movie out there today, including such films as:

1. The Paranormal Activity movies
2. Indirectly, The Exorcisim Of Emily Rose (2005)
3. As well some of the other found footage paranormal movies as well!

In the end, if you have a chance to take a look at this movie, then I highly recommend it, it is a fun one!

http://youtu.be/xTzgXVosQOU

Stephen King On The Big Screen

Stephen King… What can I say… I mean this guy can literally be described as a true master of horror! I mean this guy’s novels have been terrifying readers all over the world, with such works as:

1. Carrie
2. The Stand
3. Gerald’s Game
4. Christine

And that is just to name a few!

But there is another side to the work that Stephen King has done that I wanted to talk about today that I thought that you, guys might enjoy, and that is the work that would eventually make its way to the big or small screen!

Starting off as early as 1976 with the release of his novel, ‘Carrie’ to the big screen and continuing on to the modern day with all the remakes that are coming out from this guy’s work. Stephen King has been entertaining and scaring audiences all over the world for literally decades! And the type of talent has been drawn to the films that are based on this man’s work!

[caption id="attachment_1103" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The start of one of the most famous scenes of the movie, 'Carrie' (1976)... One of the most recognizable horror movies all time, and it was adapted from Stephen King's first novel![/caption]

There has been such notables that have worked on movies that were based on Stephen King’s works of fiction which have included:

1. Sissy Spacek (Carrie)

2. Piper Laurie (Carrie)

3. John Travolta (Carrie)

4. P.J. Soles (Carrie)

5. Nancy Allen (Carrie)

6. Drew Barrymore (Firestarter & Cat’s Eye)

7. James Woods (Cat’s Eye)

8. Martin Sheen (Firestarter)

9. George C. Scott (Firestarter)

10. Gary SInise (The Stand)

11. Matt Frewer (The Stand)

12. Molly Ringwald (The Stand)

And that is just a few of the countless notables that have graced the screen in a Stephen King movie… And as for directors , we have such truly legendary directors that have worked on these movies which included:

1. John Carpenter

2. David Cronenberg

3. Brian De Palma

4. Tobe Hooper

5. Stanley Kubrick

That is just to name a few as well!

Now if you haven’t had a chance to read any of his work, he does have some non-horror based work as well, including: The Green Mile (1999), and Stand By Me (1986)… And the truth is, is that the majority of that stuff is fun and all of that, but I am not here to talk about that…

In this case I am here to talk about his work in the horror field… There was a joke at one point that was done on TV about Stephen King having to come up with a new idea that would scare the audience well enough and so he grabs his editors lamp and tries to scare him like that…

Well that is just one facet of his work! What I mean by this is that I have found that Stephen King has been able to take any one thing or circumstance and make it in to a fun, gripping and chilling tale of the macabre! A few examples are as follows:

1. In, ‘The Langoliers’ Stephen King makes an innocent enough plane trip in to a terrifying adventure back through time, where if they don’t make it back quick, they might never be able to do so!

2. Another fun example is how Carrie tells the tale of a girl with telekinetic powers in High School who after being taunted and teased by just about everyone around her decides to get even on one fateful night that will live in infamy forever!

3. Another example is how a classic car turns out to want it’s owner about as much as the owner wants the car and will kill to keep that relationship alive!

These are just a few examples of the truly classic novels that had been turned in to movies!

All in all, the truth is, is that most of his work is better in written form, but the truth is, is that the movies that are based on his work is pretty close to being just as good, and if you haven’t had a chance to enjoy either, then I recommend trying both… You might find that you have a new author to enjoy and a new series of movies as well!

http://youtu.be/1qshFVvbYuw