As many of you already know, I hold this classic noir – like ghost story from the 80’s in very high regard. Those living in Rochester and the surrounding area, who are fans of the genre and appreciate a masterfully done spookfest in the tradition of Robert Wise’s “The Haunting,” should not miss this big screen presentation at the George Eastman House.

Hope to see you there!

– Vic De Leon

Showtime is 8pm, October 31^st. at The Dryden Theatre:

900 East Avenue

Rochester, New York 14607

“The Changeling”

(Peter Medak, Canada 1980, 107 min., 35mm)

Halloween! Reputedly, ghosts have reasons for staying in the earthly realm: they want to finish an uncompleted task, or they want to impart information to someone. And there is the possibility that a ghost may want a bit of revenge for having been hard done by when they were alive. Peter Medak’s The Changeling is a ghost story that deftly combines all three.

George C. Scott is a man mourning a terrible loss who happens to rent a lovely, cavernous mansion while he picks up the threads of his life. Unfortunately, his grief draws the troubled spirit of a little boy long dead, and Scott is compelled to try to fulfill his last wish. “The Changeling” will be preceded by Rodrigo Blaas’ animated short “Alma,” which puts a macabre twist on getting what we wish for.