- Directed by Michael Mongillo
- Written by Matt Giannini, Michael Mongillo
- Stars Clare Foley, Tony Todd, Jason Alan Smith
- Run Time: 1 Hour, 18 Minutes
- Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhqHJe_ZPUI
Spoiler-Free Judgment Zone
The terrifyingly suspenseful film THE CHANGED is now streaming on Redbox! A bold and intriguing mix of horror and science fiction, THE CHANGED tells how a group of ordinary people band together to battle imposters who have replaced their families, friends, and neighbors. Stream THE CHANGED instantly on Redbox On Demand today!
“A low- budget, generic, and dreadfully dull ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ ripoff,” says Brian. Kevin says it did remind him of Body Snatchers, and a bit like a film from 1991 starring Mimi Rogers called “The Rapture,” and he thought it was pretty darn good.
Synopsis
We begin with a view of space, then switch to the big city. We hear John Carpenter-esque music play as the credits roll.
Jane wakes up while Bill and Mac have coffee outside. Mac complains that people seem different; nobody cares anymore. Bill laughs and says there’s nothing to worry about; conspiracies without proof is paranoia. We see that Bill is just friendly with a hint of creepy (it is Tony Todd after all).
Jane and Kurt talk about how they sense it too, but also think it’s just paranoia. Kim is an old-looking teenager in high school. Skye tells her she doesn’t have to be like that. She’s helpful in a creepy way as well.
A manager tells her subordinate not to be so intense. She gives him the day off to think over what she said. Jane complains to Ethan about the phones not working, and then he attacks her. We then get numerous shots of happy people chasing down others who are screaming. The jogger, Sara, comes on to Mac in the driveway but is interrupted when Kim shows up.
Suddenly the tornado sirens go off. Something is definitely wrong. The governor has declared a state of emergency. Everyone is told to go to shelters or face criminal indictment. They decide to wait for Jane. A navy captain breaks onto the radio and says to trust no one; the government has been infiltrated; trust no one! The Internet, phones, television broadcasts, nothing is working now.
Jane comes home and tells Mac and Kim about the attack at work. No one is acting normally.
Bill comes to the door, and he talks like Mr. Rogers. They tell him about the weirdness, but he says he hasn’t noticed. “There’s nothing to be afraid of,” he says as he attacks Mac. Jane grabs the shotgun, and they tie him up. He says that he’s changed; perfected. It seems to be transmitted by kissing.
Kim’s Uncle Kurt comes to the door, and he seems normal. “We’re trying to help you,” says Bill. Kurt thinks they’re all crazy and starts to argue. Sara comes back to the door, and she wants to have sex with Mac. Mac orders her to leave. They all see people hiding in the backyard. Kim goes outside and has a long conversation with Sara. Kurt gets angry and go outside; The Changed get him. But he seems so blissed and happy that it makes you wonder if it really is okay.
There is much angst and discussion of the issue. Finally, Bill manages to kiss Jane, and Mac shoots them both. Jane talks for about an hour before she finally dies. Mac and Kim talk incessantly after she dies.
A woman comes on TV and… talks… addressing the few resistors who haven’t been changed yet. Join us or be forced, she warns. Will Mac and Kim give in or fight?
Commentary
It’s basically “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” with a lot less action and more paranoia.
Five minutes in, and Brian said it was the “attack of the self-help gurus.” That might have been better than what we ended up with. There’s an awful lot of telling-not-showing as we are told about shootings and things going on outside the house, which is certainly a limitation of the budget. But then the talking went on and on, and that’s really all that happened: talking with maybe three minutes of action.
The acting seems generally fine all-around, but there seems to be a directorial issue here. Every scene is pure talking and seems stretched out. Between scenes of talking, we see shots of clouds blowing overhead. The music is extremely low-key and seems almost intentionally bland.
Basically, it’s boring as Hell.
And then Kevin offered the counter point that he thought it was pretty entertaining, not great, but a solid 7. He wasn’t bored. It was a kinder, gentler takeover that gets the viewer to thinking about the what-if aspects of how you’d react in a situation like that.