If You Love “Elevated” Horror, You Can Thank This 1980 Ghost Movie You’ve Never Heard Of

Today’s “Elevated Horror” stands on the shoulders of innovative films like George C. Scott’s The Changeling, which you can now watch on Peacock

Modern horror fans love talking about “elevated horror”—a supposedly new wave of horror that tackles personal and timely issues with intelligence, not cheap scares. Think Hereditary (2018), the film many credit with kicking off this “horror-for-intellectuals” movement.

But long before Ari Aster, Robert Eggers, and Jordan Peele, movies like The Changeling (1980) were redefining horror—before most modern fans were even born.

In The Changeling, Oscar-winner George C. Scott (Patton) plays John Russell, a grief-stricken music professor trying to rebuild his life. He takes a new teaching job, and the local historical society sets him up in a cavernous old mansion. The problem? The house has a past—and it may not be ready to let go.

This film doesn’t rely on tired jump scares. Instead, it unravels its mystery with psychological precision. Scott’s Russell is grounded, skeptical, and utterly believable, making the supernatural elements feel chillingly real. Beneath the ghost story, The Changeling explores grief, trauma, and even class disparity with depth that rivals today’s so-called “elevated” horror.

If you love the smart horror films dominating the 2010s and ‘20s, it’s time to meet one of their ancestors. Or, if you’re just in the mood for a masterfully crafted haunted house story, stream The Changeling now—free with a Peacock subscription.