Neve Campbell Says This 80's Forgotten Horror Gem Traumatized Her as a Kid: "Didn't Sleep for Months"

Neve Campbell is one of the most important figures in horror film history – her portrayal of Sidney Prescott in Scream became the epitome of the final girl.

One might think that an actress who has starred in chilling scenes for so many years would be a seasoned veteran, unfazed by any onscreen horror.

Neve Campbell Reveals She "Didn't Sleep for Months" After Watching 'The Changeling'

But the reality is different. In a conversation with Jamie Lee Curtis for Variety, Campbell admitted that she can't stand horror films and blamed it on a movie she accidentally saw when she was 13 years old.

She's referring to The Changeling, a 1980 project starring George C. Scott that remains one of the most underrated horror movies of the decade:

“I cannot watch horror movies. I can't do it. I was 13 years old at a sleepover, it was called The Changeling with George C Scott. It's a great movie but [I] didn't sleep for months. Who does that to children?”

What Is 'The Changeling' About?

John is a talented composer who suffers a terrible tragedy when his wife and daughter are killed in a car accident. In an attempt to escape the pain, he moves into an old mansion, hoping to start a new life.

However, the house seems repulsed by its new owner, with a cadaverous smell, strange sounds, and slamming doors. John soon realizes that something is haunting the mansion – something that demands attention.

He begins an investigation and uncovers a tragic story: a child died in this house, and an influential family did everything they could to conceal the truth about his death.

'The Changeling' Isn't Your Typical 80s Horror Flick – It's Closer to Modern Slowburners

In an era when the horror genre was dominated by slashers and their bloody massacres, The Changeling stood apart.

It's a quiet, melancholic, and almost meditative movie in which ghosts are simply present, serving as a reminder of injustice, pain, and guilt, rather than screaming or leaping from around corners.

It's no coincidence that The Changeling is cited as a main source of inspiration for Alejandro Amenábar, director of The Others. The Changeling and The Others both share an atmosphere of growing anxiety, an ominous mansion as a place of mourning, and the idea that the otherworldly isn't always hostile – it simply wants to be heard.

Peter Medak's movie now appears to be a precursor to modern intellectual horror, where the focus is on mood rather than scares.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Changeling'?

• The Changeling has 85% from critics and 79% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.1/10.

• On Letterboxd, The Changeling scored 3.6/5.0.

Where to Watch 'The Changeling'?

The Changeling is available to stream on Philo and The Roku Channel.