Stephen King is known to offer his opinion on many films, and his voice carries weight in creative circles, with fans respecting it. He’s recommended lauded classics, like Jaws and Casablanca, and underappreciated gems like William Friedkin’s 1977 film, Sorcerer. King has also noted several horror films that impressed even the “Master of Horror,” highlighting a wide range of unique titles, including The Descent, Alien, and The Autopsy of Jane Doe.
Horror fans often cite one genre entry that scared King as a classic. While many directors have been influenced by the film, which is a must-watch for haunted-house lovers, some viewers are completely unaware of 1980’s The Changeling. The movie begins with a jarring car accident that sets a grim tone, with the central character’s grief being heightened by an unseen presence and a mystery calling to him from beyond. After 46 years, The Changeling remains compelling, with even genre enthusiasts like King drawn to the chilling psychological thriller.
‘The Changeling’ Masters Haunted House Horror
Patton star George C. Scott plays John Russell in The Changeling. He’s a man who loses his wife and daughter in a freak car accident, with the movie’s opening scene shocking audiences with the tragic display. John then moves across the country, where he begins a new job as a professor while living in a house he found through the historical society. What begins as literal bumps in the night slowly ramps up the tension, with John being haunted by a presence inside the house. There are slamming doors, ghostly voices, and an ominous ball bouncing its way down the stairs and into audiences’ nightmares.
The Changeling thrives thanks to a tense atmosphere and methodical pacing. John finds himself unraveling an engrossing mystery surrounding his new house, its former residents, and someone who may have died there, keeping viewers locked in as the film ratchets up the scares and asks them to look away. Even the truth behind the haunting proves terrifying in its own right, with the finale delivering unforgettable visuals and a darkly satisfying conclusion.
Stephen King Was Rattled by ‘The Changeling’
Critics and audiences love The Changeling, with the horror movie holding an impressive 85% on Rotten Tomatoes. Most reviews praise Scott’s grief-stricken performance and the movie’s terrifying scares as highlights. Fans love the movie’s avoidance of in-your-face tactics, as it embraces a more subtle tone and finds bone-chilling moments in the simplest things. Like many, King praises the movie’s creepy bouncing ball as absolutely horrifying. In 2017, while speaking at the British Film Institute’s King On Screen event, the acclaimed author discussed The Changeling, expressing how much it scared him, stating:
“For supernatural horror, I like Peter Medak’s film The Changeling, starring George C. Scott in perhaps his last great screen role. There are no monsters bursting from chests; just a child’s ball bouncing down a flight of stairs was enough to scare the daylights out of me.”
While King may have been slightly off about Scott, who would still go on to impress horror fans in The Exorcist III, he nails what makes The Changeling work. There are plenty of haunted-house horror movies to choose from, but Medak’s 1980 film sets itself apart by delving into emotional trauma, elevating the story’s mystery beyond clichés. When even King is scared by the subtle, creepy nature of a horror movie, it’s worth giving a chance, which is the case for the impeccable The Changeling.
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