If you look back through the history of both science-fiction and horror you will notice just how many of them feature the idea of someone close to you changing into something that you don’t recognise. Be that from alien invasions a la Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Faculty, to mind control as seen in Disturbing Behaviour, or for some other entirely different reason, the history books are filled with a ton of these types of stories. It’s clear that audiences and filmmakers alike find the topic fascinating. Now comes another entry, The Changed. From American director Michael Mongillo, The Changed puts an ordinary group of people, all neighbours, together in a suburban home as they do battle with imposters who have recently replaced their friends and family, referring to themselves as ‘The Changed’.
The Changed immediately shifts against expectations of the conventions of this narrative structure. Mongillo has worked his hardest to approach the theme from a new angle. The one that he has settled on is to circumvent the usual status quo opening. Typically the viewer expects to see normal life as is, getting to know various key players as they are before a key event occurs to usurp that normality. The Changed begins about a month into the takeover by which point most of our small town location has already been changed. All that remains is a very small pocket of the population, which includes husband and wife, Mac (Jason Alan Smith) and Jane (Carlee Avers), high-school student Kim (Clare Foley), and her uncle Kurt (Doug Tompos). As the ‘invasion’ picks up further momentum, the group manage to trap one of the Changed, Sam (played by horror icon Tony Todd), in an attempt to extort some intel from him. By switching up the start point, it places the audience on the back foot and, despite the expectation that Mac and co are the heroes, by having no established allegiances, there are some that could find themselves swayed by the words of the changed. This of course fits perfectly into what is playing out on the screen and encourages that extra veil of immersion.
Mongillo subverts the familiar formula further by keeping the story confined to what in other films would be considered the middle act. Instead of rushing through the middle to get to the pay-off, Mongillo gives it the respect that it deserves, stretching it out for almost the entire time. It’s a move that won’t impress everyone, but if you take a step back and let yourself get drawn into the characters then those frustrations will be forgotten. Tony Todd is excellent as the spokesperson for the Changed, using a silver tongue to try and persuade and sway the remaining unchanged. Watching the interplay between him and the rest of the group is more than enough to sustain the film. Granted, there is a lot of talking, but these discussions revolve around real issues. There are conversations about the morals of what the ‘unchanged’ are doing (keeping someone restrained against their will) when they don’t actually have a great deal of proof other than Sam isn’t quite himself. Then the themes of family and belonging come into play; Kim has always been a bit of an outlier and Foley does an excellent job of conveying Kim’s uncertainty. What everything boils down to is the power of one’s own resolve.
With so much to unpack, The Changed is a film that takes time to digest. When watching initially, given the content of the story, presumptions based on past similar titles may cloud your judgement. Push them to the side though and you’ll discover an interesting and well-acted chamber piece that explores the very fibres of the human condition.
The Changed
Summary
The body invasion archetype gets a rework in this taunt and chatty chamber piece that deviates and pivots away from conventions and expectations.
The Changed was reviewed at Arrow Video FrightFest 2021.
