The Changeling (1980)

• Directed by Peter Medak
• Written by Russell Hunter, William Gray, Diana Maddox
• Stars George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere, Melvyn Douglas, Jean Marsh
• Run Time: 1 Hour, 47 Minutes
• Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTzgXVosQOU

Spoiler-Free Judgment Zone

This one is a bit of a mystery figuring out what’s going on as things unfold. Great house, great cast, and an excellent script. There’s plenty of tension and creepiness as it goes along. It’s a really a good one worth checking out that has held up well for being 40 plus years old.

Synopsis

On November 27th, John Russell and his family go on vacation, but their car breaks down on the road. They push the car off to the side. He goes into the phone booth to call for a tow and ends up watching his wife and daughter get run over by a snowplow truck. As credits roll, we see that John goes home to the big city and his very nearly-empty apartment; he’s moving to Seattle to teach music.

He rents a huge old mansion that’s been empty for twelve years. Before he even moves in, the piano plays a note all by itself.

John goes to a fundraiser for the symphony and hears Senator Carmichael giving a speech; Claire says that…