It's a shame that this film has been lumbered with the title 'The Changeling 2' (those Italians!), as it's actually not bad at all and far better than the cash-in title suggests. The film is nothing like Peter Medak's 1980 horror, and actually owes more to the popular Italian Giallo imports, as well as the American film noir movement. The film that this one takes most of its influence from is undoubtedly the 1946 masterpiece The Postman Always Rings Twice (which coincidently (or not) was remade six years before this film), and this is shown by the central plot and characters; all of which are clearly reminiscent of the earlier film. However, this is an Italian movie - so you can count on a few over the top surprises! The plot focuses on a man and a woman who decide to murder the woman's husband. This isn't the sort of behaviour that goes unnoticed by the law, and the man becomes paranoid about what the couple have done. Eight years on, a mysterious drifter arrives at their bed and breakfast and he seems to know a lot about the crime the couple committed years earlier...
This film was made for Italian TV, and it does have a rather cheap feel to it; but it's adequately glossed over by a distinctly Italian style, and the film features some brilliantly atmospheric music along with a quality cast of actors, most of which have worked with big names such as Lucio Fulci and Dario Argento. The film is directed by Lamberto Bava; son of the great Mario Bava, and a director who has a varied career full of hits and misses. The Changeling 2 is actually one of Lamberto's better films and isn't too far off the quality of some of his somewhat acclaimed Giallo's such as Macabre and A Blade in the Dark. The Giallo influence can be seen throughout the film as Bava keeps the focus on the murder, and the mystery surrounding the drifter who enters the couple's lives. It has to be said that the ending is rather poor and I'd have preferred the film if Bava didn't go for the ill-advised schlock twist. But even so, this is an assured and fun little film that is a lot better than the TV roots and the cash-in title would suggest it is. Recommended to the cult fan!