The Changeover

Released Feb 22, 2019

1h 35m

Fantasy

Mystery & Thriller

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List

72%

32 Reviews

Tomatometer

66%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

A teen in Christchurch, New Zealand, battles an ancient spirit who slowly drains the life out of her 4-year-old brother.

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Critics Consensus

The Changeover may not bite deep enough for more seasoned horror fans, but it's spooky enough for its younger target demographic.

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Rachel R

If you didn't know that this was a book (a good book, perhaps even a great book) for the YA audience, written back in the mid-1980s, then you're missing out. However, this adaptation missed a lot of tricks. Great casting (no denying that) but the plot was deplorable. This is not a great adaptation, in fact, it's a travesty that would probably have the author spinning in her grave. That they used this title and these character names makes me angry because the plot has absolutely nothing to do with the book they say it's 'adapted from'. Why anyone thought this was a good idea is beyond me. I am not a fan of adaptations at the best of times but this was just horrific. I can't believe I put myself through the time it took to watch it.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/29/23

Full Review

Late R

The blending of genres makes it difficult to pin down, and that might be its greatest strength: tone-wise, it feels like a dark YA film with horror vibes. It clearly didn't have the budget to match some of the bigger productions in the teen supernatural category, but that also works positively to make it feel different, a bit grittier. The screenplay has some difficulty balancing the supernatural elements with everything else – in fact, for a film that revolves around magic, there is precious little of that going on and it doesn't even try to explain the what, why and how (even the few flimsy rules that it does outline don't make much sense once you stop to think about them). Nevertheless, despite that, it's clear that ‘The Changeover' was never really about the magic: the actual core message that it's trying to get across is about grief and the darkness that comes with it; how it grows inside of you like a larvae and you have to look within yourself and deal with it if you want to continue, even if you'll never be the same afterwards. And when you consider that, I have to say that it does a pretty impressive job and ends on a strong note.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/30/21

Full Review

Audience Member

Very heartfelt. Well acted. If you like teen drama witchcraft done well, then this is for you.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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Audience Member

Really well done. There is something truly heartfelt at its core that gets across.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Audience Member

Wonderful excercise in storytelling and which parts of a movie production should get the special effects budgeting and which can be told through storytelling - strong cast

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

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Miranda Harcourt

Director

Stuart Mckenzie

Director

Timothy Spall

Carmody Braque

Melanie Lynskey

Kate Chant

Lucy Lawless

Miryam Carlisle

Erana James

Laura Chant

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The Changeover: Trailer 1

2:02

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Scott Tobias

NPR

The Changeover is one of those supernatural thrillers where the rules are both abstract and arbitrary, rendering Laura's internal struggle as dull predestination rather than an act of intention and will.

Feb 21, 2019

Full Review

Noel Murray

Los Angeles Times

[A]n astute adaptation, balancing magical arcana with everyday adolescent turmoil.

Feb 21, 2019

Full Review

John DeFore

Hollywood Reporter

Uniformly solid performances and artful camera/sound work make the film hard to dismiss out of hand, but the script doesn't sell its hokum as effectively as more mainstream supernatural soap operas.

Feb 21, 2019

Full Review

Graeme Tuckett

Stuff.co.nz

The Changeover plays like a locally made Stephen King-style story, but with a strong female leads and a perfectly judged ending. This is a teen and adult fantasy, done extremely well.

Sep 3, 2021

Full Review

April McIntyre

HeyUGuys

A thought-provoking examination of the emotional fallout of a natural disaster, The Changeover has a number of narrative issues, but some fine performances elevate this one.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 10, 2020

Full Review

Katie Hogan

VultureHound

There seems to be much promise attached the story but the film doesn't quite deliver what's expected.

Rated: 2/5

Feb 3, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

A teen in Christchurch, New Zealand, battles an ancient spirit who slowly drains the life out of her 4-year-old brother.

Director: Miranda Harcourt, Stuart Mckenzie
Producer: Richard Fletcher, Caroline Hutchison, Angela Littlejohn
Screenwriter: Stuart Mckenzie
Distributor: Vertical Entertainment
Production Co: Firefly Films
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English (Australia)
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 22, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 22, 2019
Runtime: 1h 35m

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