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The Changeover

Play trailer 2:02 Poster for The Changeover Released Feb 22, 2019 1h 35m Fantasy Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
71% Tomatometer 31 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
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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The Changeover

The Changeover

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Read all reviews
The Changeover

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

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
Emma Slade
Screenwriter
Stuart Mckenzie
Distributor
Vertical Entertainment
Production Co
Firefly Films
Genre
Fantasy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
Australian English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 22, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 22, 2019
Runtime
1h 35m
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