"The Changeling" is one of the most effective haunted-house films ever made; paradoxically, 'The Washingtonians' is one of the weakest entries in the "Masters of Horror" series. However, I do not think Peter Medak (the director of both) is entirely to blame for this--what begins as a very cool concept rife with horrific potential (the notion that our concept of 'history' has glossed over the transgressions of our forefathers, including George Washington's penchant for dining on virgins) disintegrates into a tug-of-war between seriousness and camp. While Medak exhibits the same skilled use of light, shadow, fog, and flourishing camera moves that made "The Changeling" so endearing, 'The Washingtonians' script (by Johnathon Schaech and Richard Chizmar) is clunkily paced and tonally unfocused, shooting for satire, straight horror, or broad comedy at any given moment. The result is simply too uneven to be satisfying on any level. And possibly the biggest detriment is co-writer Schaech's performance in the lead role--unable to emote or recite dialog convincingly, his presence leaves us rooting for the cannibals all the way (Saul Rubinek--looking a lot like George Wendt--fares slightly better with his comedic bits). And while there is some suspense, and the wigs, makeup, and costumes are superb (including some of the most imposing orthodontics ever filmed), 'The Washingtonians' comes off as coldly as a corpse in winter.
4.5 out of 10