TrueJoshNight Truly Dreadful Film

LastingAware The greatest movie ever!

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Brooklynn There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

Leofwine_draca I'm a sucker for a good old-fashioned haunted house movie and THE AMITYVILLE HORROR is one of those all right – with the added frisson of being (supposedly) based on a true story! It's a film made at the tail-end of the 1970s replete with that fine '70s atmosphere. And atmosphere is what this film is all about; it creates a truly sinister look and feel as it depicts what happens to the innocent Lutz family after they move into a house that was the site of a previous massacre. From the title cards telling us the days of the week (building up a fine sense of foreboding) to the constant weird things going on, this film is predictable and entertainingly so. Swarms of bluebottles appearing out of nowhere, a sinister hidden room in the basement, a priest haunted by a sinister spirit, a weird pig-creature in the window, blood pouring down the walls, a crucifix turning upside down, a guy getting possessed by a killer spirit and more besides…what's not to love here? Okay, so the film has some rough edges. For the most part, though, it's surprisingly undated, especially as the special effects are kept simple and down to earth. The cast is also decent: I don't like Margot Kidder, but she gives a suitably scared turn here, although Christian Bale look-alike James Brolin has the stand-out turn as the guy becoming increasingly deranged. Rod Steiger is good value, as always, as the priest enduring a run of extremely bad luck.I first saw this film a good decade ago and found it creepy and powerful and seeing it now in the modern age I find it just as creepy, with the demonic voice shouting 'get out!' still the scary highlight. Up there with THE ENTITY and POLTERGEIST as the best this genre has to offer. This is also one of the rare instances in which the remake (released in 2005) manages to be as good, if not better, as the original.

Calvin Hobbes I'm generally not a fan of the whole "haunted-house" genre, but I figured since this one's a classic- it'b be alright. First off. I knew this was gonna be a bad movie after: A: a fly caused two priests to spin out of control while they were driving (Hi--llerious) and B: after the ghost(s) stole $1500 from a groom on his wedding day. Wtf? Since when do people need to worry about ghosts stealing money. This movie gets annoying real fast. And here are some reasons why: -None of the characters know how to open doors. -No one can hold an object long enough to NOT drop it. -The kids in this movie have NO personality; and basically act as fillers until they get shot in the end; and they're ALL stupid as hell (P.S little girl; when your babysitter is locked in a closet literally three feet away from you, maybe you should do something as opposed to just sitting there like a nu-bis). -Margot Kidder is way too hot for this movie. -James Brolin looks like a homeless man (yet his legs have no hair/ looks like it all migrated to his face, loll). -Every priest/nun in this movie is bonkers (just cause your a priest doesn't mean you can just waltz right into a house completely unannounced---"But i'm blessing it".."Oh, swell man, we got a doorbell." F#**%in Creep. -The house seems to give everybody "the creeps" --even during the daytime. Oh Jinkies.-There's way too much foreshadowing--the whole movie is basically one giant spoiler. -Apparently, this movie has rewritten the boundaries of anatomy and now blood just squirts out of the epidermis- or anywhere for that matter (the walls). -George is pretty much an a**hole the whole movie. -George goes to the hospital, but doesn't bother to ask about his apparent "flu". -Nothing scary happens in the first hour of the movie. Overall, the 70's was a breeding ground for excellent, stylish horror movies (i.e, The Omen, Black Christmas, The Exorcist, Halloween, Evil Dead, Chainsaw Massacre..etc) that would define the genre and mold it into the billion dollar industry it is today (blah,blah, blah I have no idea what i'm talking about.) The fact of the matter is...this film is not one of those movies. It was born at the turn of the decade, and just missed it's mark, I guess. I think this was the point when horror movies started becoming methodical instead of original. There's the deep drone of a bassist before every startling incident; fake-out jump scares; actual jump-scares; stupid- a** kids with imaginary friends, there's blood. blood..ooh so much blood. So yeah. Just not that great of a movie.Go watch it! ;P

andyroo54 Looking at this movie 35 years after it's release, it's very easy to see it's influence on movies made since, especially more recent (last ten years) horror, including movies like Insidious, paranormal activity etc. There are so many great ideas in this movie, I particularly like the relationship the child has with the spirit, that only she can see, an idea that has been used countless times since. But I feel like it was never fully followed through, it almost seems like they didn't know how to end this movie, how to tie it all together. The plot with the priest just fizzles out, the plot with the ghost on the child can see fizzles out, the idea that the husband is going to kill everyone fizzles out.. it just fizzles. It's just such a shame considering the possibilities. I also think it's overly long, and quite boring in some parts. There are a few jump scares early on but nothing spectacular. I kept waiting for things to get scary but most parts just seemed comical, like when the lead actor saw a ghost head of himself hovering in the cavity behind the wall in the basement. It even had a cheesy bit of music to go with it. I feel like maybe they were channeling some of the exorcist here with the priest plot lines, but it just didn't work. In the end, it was a totally unsatisfying movie, with a really weak ending. Having said that, I have to give it kudos for inspiring the movie makers of today, and I think modern horror is so much better for the ones that went before.

kclipper Based on the book depicting events that took place following the actual case of the 1974 Ronald Defeo murders of the New York suburban town of Amityville. George and Kathy Lutz and family move into their dream home and subsequently fall victim to paranormal forces that seem to be demonic in nature, and aggressive and violent incidents plague the poor family and their psychological well-being. Fans and skeptics doubt the credulity of the Lutz family's claims, but this film sparked an interest in the paranormal that is historically relevant.This was a time (1979) when haunted house films of this nature had a substantial impact on our culture due to a fear of the unknown that has not quite developed into what it is today with countless paranormal reality T.V. shows like "Ghost Hunters" and "The Haunted". Margot Kidder and James Brolin are sympathetic as the unbeknownst couple who must struggle with the past experiences of their home's previous occupants and the angry forces that may continue too inhabit it. Most of the plot devices seem quite clichéd for today's audiences, including bleeding walls, demonic voices crying "get out!!", and an unforgettable scene with priest, Rod Steiger attacked by flies and forced out of the home by the malevolent presence. With all inconsistencies and haunted house clichés aside, this is late 70's horror at its hammy best, with a very creepy musical score and overall unsettling ambient feel that continues to entertain paranormal and demonology enthusiasts to this day. The history of the "true" story behind the Defeo murders is undeniably scary, and the performances are convincing enough. The house with its second story windows looking like animalistic eyes is creepy in itself, and its' suspense is overwhelming. Fans of old school haunted house films will consider this a classic, newer generation ghost story seekers may find it boring and dated. Nevertheless, its a historical film-making experience with a solid cast and a thought-provoking argument between parapsychology, religion and reality.