THE CHANGELING (LE 4K) [UHD &

Old George c Scott horror movie not to be confused with Angelina Jolie film of the same name

This 1980 tale is more a ghost story with a touch of horror. Refreshing that there is no swearing or close up blood and gore.

Excellent release, Second Sight have made the definitive version

Ok. So, this is a film from 42 years ago. It is typical of it's time and obviously the shocks and thrills we got horror films made in the early 1980's have now been superseded by the special effects and licence to gush blood and explore gore.Having saying that this film holds it's own because it is so much better than the majority of scary films made since. It is a film that has a narrative that by ghostly demonic standards has a plausibility. It keeps you guessing without going off on ridiculous tangents. There is an attention to pace, acting and camerawork that has been lost in a lot of films since which rely on the effects to grab your attention. Not sure that Trish Van Devere is right for the part. She tries to look and act like Lee Remick but fails and Ms Remick would have been perfect for this roile but George C Scott works his portrayal well and Melvyn Douglas nails his part while the rest of the cast come and go but are fine and don't overplay.As mentioned the camera angles plus pace of the film even now keep the story interesting even though this sort of film has been made many times since.If I'd watched this when it first came out I'm sure it would have been given 4 or maybe 4.5 stars even now I have to give it 3.5 stars as it does keep the interest despite the dating not of the film but the way they made films 40 years ago.

Being a teenager at the height of the home-video era in the early 80s and also being a horror fan then, The Changeling was one of the first movies I watched in video format. At the time I remember it being an altogether different experience from my usual horror fare (such as The Evil Dead, An American Werewolf in London and I Spit On Your Grave) and rewatching it all these years later I am reminded why. It’s not really a horror movie, it’s more a meditation on grief and an affirmation of karma.If you’re reading this review then you probably know enough about the plot of The Changeling for me not to go into it here. Basically, it’s a ghost story with an element of the ‘whodunnit (and what did they do)’ thrown in. This description probably does the film an injustice though, as it’s much more interesting than a bog-standard ghost story or ‘whodunnit’. This is largely due to George C. Scott’s performance as a grieving husband/father. Some other reviewers have mentioned that they felt Scott was miscast here but for me he’s perfect in the part, portraying just the right amount of stoicism and pain given what has happened to the character.Credit must also be given to the director (Peter Medak) and writers too, for refusing to give too much away early on or to go for hackneyed scares. They recognise it’s the story that’s the most important thing here.On the downside, some of the characters in the film seem a little underwritten (for instance, I’d like to have known more about the senator played by Melvyn Douglas) and the title of the film itself becomes a spoiler at a certain point in the movie. However, these minor foibles don’t change my affection for The Changeling.With regard to the version I bought, the Second Sight limited-edition blu-ray boxset is a superb package and the best the film has ever looked (or is ever likely to look, despite the naysayers).

Paid £40 for a great film that looks no better than a DVD.Very disappointed.And yes, I was playing the Ultra HD disk.God knows how they can say this is 4kNigel.

bought it because i am a big van devere fan , excellent film.

Second SIGHT have put together a very interesting (if rather expensive) package The Blu Ray comes with lots of extras, all listed here on the Amazon site, an interesting booklet with full cast and credits (I recomend reading after you watch the film). There is a CD with the music, but as I was less than impressed with it I have given that a miss. I have a question, and call me a cynic...but why go to all this care and hard work over a film that is, yes, very good, but personally, I can't call it a classic, tho obviously that is a matter of opinion. The quality of the Blu Ray, whilst good, is not as good as one might be led to expect, but...it is good, just not excellent BluRay standard. The subtitles are very good. The film is dominated by George, and thank goodness for him and Trish Vandevere, both excellent. This is a classic "ghost/haunted house mystery", with no gore, blood or jump cut shocks, just a well paced, well told mystery ghost story. Think "The Haunting" and "Ghost Story" and you get the idea. Highly recomended with reservations if you like the more violent recent "horrors" (Nothing wrong with them AW).