Iconic author Stephen King has a wealth of opinions on various subjects, some of which spark controversy. However, his views on pop culture — including television shows, movies, and books — carry significant weight, even if they don’t always align with mainstream opinions. When Stephen King shares his thoughts on these topics, it’s wise to pay attention. A valuable resource for his top recommendations is a 2017 interview with BFI, where King revealed his ten favorite films. One notable film from that list received King’s acclaim as the best supernatural horror of all time, and it’s currently available to stream for free on Tubi: 1980’s The Changeling.

As King mentioned in the interview: “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.”

A Vengeful Spirit Seeks Justice in ‘The Changeling’

Widowed composer John Russell (Scott) relocates to Seattle to escape the memories of his wife and daughter, who tragically died in an accident caused by a semi-truck. He rents an old mansion from Claire Norman (Trish Van Devere), an agent for a local historical society. Although Claire assures him that the house has been vacant for twelve years, strange occurrences soon begin to unfold: loud banging noises, water taps turning on by themselves, a shattered window revealing a hidden attic, and the discovery of a music box that plays the same tune he had played on the piano the night before. Most disturbingly, he sees the apparition of a drowned boy in a bathtub.

John and Claire investigate the mansion’s history and attribute the disturbances to the spirit of a young girl who died on the property in 1909. To delve deeper, John enlists a husband-and-wife team of mediums to conduct a seance, which is recorded on audio tape. The seance reveals surprising information about the spirit’s identity: it is not a girl but rather Joseph Carmichael. Who is Joseph Carmichael? John uncovers a horrifying truth: Joseph was a sickly six-year-old boy murdered by his father in 1906. Joseph — and his father — stood to inherit a vast fortune upon reaching age 21, an age he was unlikely to live to see. To secure this inheritance, his father replaced him with a local orphan — the “changeling” — claiming that Joseph’s ailments had been cured during an extended stay in Europe.

Determined to bring peace to Joseph’s spirit, John digs deeper into the mystery. He excavates on property once owned by the Carmichael family and discovers Joseph’s skeleton along with an incriminating christening medal buried with him. Confronting “Joseph Carmichael,” now a U.S. Senator, with this revelation leads to unexpected consequences when Senator Carmichael sends Police Captain DeWitt (John Colicos) to intimidate John into relinquishing the medal. However, after John refuses entry, DeWitt leaves to obtain a search warrant but never returns due to a mysterious car accident that claims his life. It’s evident that Joseph will not rest until he receives justice… but can John deliver it?

Stephen King Is Right, and Wrong, About ‘The Changeling’

Stephen King is both correct and incorrect about The Changeling. This film is an unconventional yet excellent supernatural horror that also serves as an engaging detective-style thriller with emotional depth rarely found in either genre.

The film effectively utilizes its eerie mansion setting to create an atmosphere where disturbances feel almost inevitable. It avoids jump scares and excessive gore, instead building tension through unsettling moments and clever camera work — such as the red rubber ball rolling down the stairs and landing at John’s feet or the old wheelchair that seemingly comes to life and chases Claire.

A beautifully disquieting sequence showcases Joseph’s perspective as he observes the seance from above before making his presence known, exemplifying director Peter Medak’s creative vision. As a thriller, John and Claire’s investigation into Joseph’s hidden secrets creates an engaging mystery with unexpected twists.

However, it is this emotional depth that distinguishes The Changeling. John has no personal ties to the mansion he rents. He could easily leave without consequence since many have done so before him. Yet he is still mourning his wife and daughter’s deaths and recognizes something familiar in Joseph’s plight — a cry for help that resonates deeply with him. Ultimately, as justice is served for Joseph, John finds renewed purpose in life through one of Scott’s finest performances. This raises profound questions about whether Senator Carmichael should be held accountable for his father’s actions despite being unaware of them. The fact that (SPOILER) he ultimately faces consequences may be one of the most chilling aspects of The Changeling, along with its potential basis in true events.

The Changeling is available for free streaming on Tubi.