The Amityville Horror Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
"For God's Sake, Get Out!"
The best-selling novel about a haunted house... has become real!
George and Kathy Lutz, a newly married couple with three children, movie into their beautiful new house in Amityville, New York, only to discover the house already has demonic inhabitants.
| James Brolin | George Lutz |
| Margot Kidder | Kathy Lutz |
| Rod Steiger | Father Delaney |
| Don Stroud | Father Bolen |
| Murray Hamilton | Father Ryan |
| John Larch | Father Nuncio |
| Natasha Ryan | Amy |
| K.C. Martel | Greg |
| Meeno Peluce | Matt |
| Michael Sacks | Jeff |
| Helen Shaver | Carolyn |
| Amy Wright | Jackie |
| Val Avery | Sgt. Gionfriddo |
| Irene Dailey | Aunt Helena |
| Marc Vahanian | Jimmy |
| Stuart Rosenberg |
5.80 out of 10 (9055 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Scariest thing is the hair and clothes
posted on 21 Aug 2009Can I just ask the people who made the film WHY DID YOU NOT FOLLOW THE BOOK????!!!! You would have a way scarey movie if you did that Even though I said in the summary the scariest thing was the hair I have to admit there were parts in the film that freaked me out totally (the eyes in the little girls window and the cat) My advice is don't go out of your way to see it, but if it's on TV, sit down and give it a go. Oh yeah has anyone else noticed that Helen Shaver looks way older in the film than she does in recent stuff (poltergeist the legacy, the craft)
Spiritual mumbo-jumbo a plus
posted on 10 Aug 2009This is a very 70s horror flick based on the bestselling book of the 'true' story of a haunted Long Island home. It was debunked and proven to be a total sham, but the film spawned about ten sequels and even that necessary remake.
The Lutz family purchases their dream house only to find that it's haunted, and also helpfully contains the passageway to Hell in the basement. Yes, it is completely and utterly crushing to think that if such a passage existed into something called Hell, it would be in Amityville, Long Island.
James Brolin plays the husband, tough guy with a lot of hair. Margot Kidder is the wife, who gets to react with big, wide eyes whenever she witnesses a ghost, hallucination, atrocity, etc. Most of the scares are indeed opening doors or something, looking at something, and then the music gets really loud, and then we see the peoples' eyes, closer, and then, da-da! A cheesy special effect.
Good for nostalgia value. The appearance of Rod Steiger as a crazed priest is a major plus. Like a cheap Exorcist. If these types of films scare you, it might be worth it on a slow night. Good for some unintentional laughs, too.
For maximization watch Amityville II first
posted on 09 Aug 2009This is the Amityville Horror that started it all--; well, sort of, Amityville II: The Possession (despite its rotten ending) gives a good lead-up to this film (after-all it is a pre-quel). This movie leads off right where part II ended. (with the cops surrounding the area) Amityville Horror is on the long side (2 hours for a horror movie is unheard of) Its coverage of events (like the imaginary friend Judy, the basement, and ooze is tedious and lacks action. (don't all the amityville movies seem the same? HOWEVER, this one is at least distinct--) The film has a feel of a (pseudo-)documentary, including screen type of "one month later", "thursday,day four", "The Lutz's now live in another state and have never returned to reclaim the house or their/its possessions." In this case the story strings you along wondering what will finally occur. Yet disappointingly, nothing does really happen. George Lutz's deterioration throughout the film and the way stress builds during the movie adds to the tension and wonderment, but running back to save the dog and falling into the well just isn't terribly exciting (something like the end of Amityville 3-D, without the fly, would have been more exciting). Overall the movie is worth seeing though as James Brolin, Margot Kidder, and Rod Steiger are credible in this Acadamy Award nominated (best original screen-play) story about a family moving into the Amityville, Long Island house, the priest that be-friends them, and paranomial activity that gets in the way. Based on the Jay Anson book and true events.
Get out!!!
posted on 11 Jul 2009I've always believed that it's not what you see that scares you in a horror movie, but that which has not yet presented itself. Few movies serve as a better example of this idea than "The Amityville Horror," which sits unshakeably near the top of my all-time horror movie list.
This is a brooding movie that unnerves the viewer with some of the spookiest scenes in horror history. But, wild-eyed monsters don't lunge from the screen. Instead they reside in closets or in the room at the top of the stairs, unseen and yet powerfully menacing.
When the camera forces you to stand inside that empty room with the priest, as flies gather on the window sill and the door slams shut, you want to hurl yourself through the window to escape. When you see the closet door swing shut on the babysitter, you want to burrow your way through the wall with bloody fingers to flee that claustrophobic darkness. This is a movie that places you directly in the center of the nastiness and won't let you go. The haunting music doesn't help, either. What is more terrifying than the singing voices of children in the darkness?
Another strength of the flick is the witnessing of Brolin's character slowly coming unraveled as he seeks to maintain control out of the growing terror around him. Brolin is every man, with a strong desire to take care of his family and to confront things that scare him. But the wickedness of the spirits that live with him is stronger, and the thing beneath the basement, well... That's something you should see for yourself, through a first or tenth viewing of this frightful film.
Flat, Plotless Hollywood Fodder
posted on 25 Jun 2009And it certainly was. There is no plot to this story. Except that if you had grainy photography in 1979, you need to find a better studio. For the famous movie that it is, people seem to forget all of the flaws it had. For one, there was no plot. Two, grainy photography. Three, bad acting. Four, no depiction of real horror. The only good thing about this was Lalo Shcirffin's score. And people don't even care about that. This is by no means scary, and by no means good. The story is completely made up. If you want a good haunted house film, you're better off with two movies that came out the year after, "The Shining" or "The Changeling." If your looking for horror films from 1979, ditch this piece of garbage and rent "Alien" or "Dawn Of The Dead." This User's Rating: 1.5 out of 5
Is It LIve or Memorex?
posted on 23 Jun 2009'Amityville' is supposed to be based on a true story. As a critic I don't really want to speculate. However, if I am in the house and it tells me to "GET OUT!!!!" I am so outta there it wouln't be funny. The film is chilling in spots. There are a few dragged out scenes, but overall it moves at a good pace. The actors are so serious, except for Margot Kidder. She keeps looking for good ole Superman to bail her out again. Brolin is effective as the husband who is the object of the possession. Rod Steiger plays a priest determined to exercise the house. Seems a little dated, but good news! It's scheduled for a redux soon. Watch out for the lamest of sequels (second only to "The Howling" series.
Worth a look for fans of the genre.
posted on 19 Jun 2009A family moves into a long island home that was the sight of a murder the previous year & are soon plagued by supernatural forces. Flies manifest in large sums when their suppose to be out of season, black goo oozes from the toilet & several people who visit the house wind up getting sick, you know the usual haunted house stuff. First installment in a very long series of sometimes interesting though sometimes dull series is a bit slow in places, but it's not all that bad & the story keeps you're interest. Supposedly based on true events. Horror fans may want to take a look at it, it's fairly decent, just a tad boring in places. Followed by a remake in 2005 & six sequels & a prequel, AMITYVILLE II: THE Possession**1/2 (stars)
a good movie
posted on 17 Jun 2009while im not sure i believe all of this happened it is a great movie, and i believe it is possible for some of the things in the movie to have happened.....the thing that got me most was the slime i really dont see that likely, but then again stranger things have happened a good movie overall
Absolutely Awful
posted on 13 Jun 2009I had such high hopes of this movie, such high hopes that I wasted a portion of my Christmas gift card on the DVD. When I finally watched it, all I did was laugh at the parts that were supposed to scare you and cried at the fact that I would rather kiss a toilet seat that watch this piece of s***. This movie was so freakin DUMB!!!!!!! I mean, a five year old could have written a better movie, with decent scares. This movie was not scary at all, I don't know why it was such a success. People probably just tried to like it because of all the hype of the original story and that it was a smash in the box office at the time. One of the preists, "Father Delaney", gets hurt somehow every time he calls the Lutz's or visits their house (or tries). Then he is screaming to the other preists, telling them that there is something wrong with the house. Is that supposed to be suspenseful, or spooky that he is the only the one who can help? No!!! In another part, George Lutz's co-worker and his wife come to the house. When is wife takes one look, she goes, "Oh I'm not going in there. It.....it gives me the creeps." Ooooohhh, scary. There are so many other stupid parts as well, but are too disturbing for me too mention. Basically, this whole movie is dumb, stupid, has bad acting, silly actors, and is so boring you have to remind yourself that this 2 hrs. of crap will be over soon to keep you from jumping out of the closest window. Believe me, you'll be doing better for yourself if you never try to watch this. Don't waste your money, or your time. I learned the hard way.
Black Goo and flies...
posted on 10 Jun 2009I know they want you to think this was a true story, and that this really happened to the family who lived there (lutz's)over the course of 31 days or so. That black goo really came out of the toilet and walls, that there were tons of flies in the sewing room upstairs, that demon voices were heard telling a priest to get out, that a small statue of a lion came to life and chewed on Mr. Lutz's leg. If you believe all that than you must believe pigs can fly....oh wait there is also a demon pig with red eyes that likes to look into the windows of the house.If you treat this as a better than average horror film than it is not all that bad. James Brolin and Margto Kidder play the parts of Mr and Mrs lutz the owners who claim this really happened to them, however there have been reports in recent years that the real Lutz's made the hoax up due to financial reasons and the large mortgage they were strapped to. Maybe they saw an opportunity with dollar signs to build on the already infamous status the house had. For those that are not familiar with that story there was a family that was murdered in the house about a year or so prior to the Lutz's moving in. It was a 28 year man who killed his whole family after voices that he claimed told him to do it. Would have made no difference to me if the dog told him to do it. In any case an above average horror story if it is treated just as that....above average and fiction.
Bad Script, Bad Directing, and Bad Acting - more comedy than horror
posted on 23 May 2009This movie was more comedy than horror. The realtor showing the house to George and Kathy Lutz could be mistaken for Mrs. Doubtfire, or Scott Thompson in drag (Kids in the Hall). James Brolin as George Lutz appears in an apparition as a cheap looking Satan with horns. The facial expressions of all adult characters are comedic as they try to convey the terror they are experiencing. The only true expression of horror comes when George takes a swing at wife Kathy (Margot Kidder) with an axe. The shriveled look on her face as she lets out a finger nail on the blackboard scream is truly terrifying - I would not want to wake up next to that...bluuuuhhh. The little girl, Amy, and dog Larry, are the best actors in this cheap and poorly made film which fails to tell with any accuracy the Lutz family's actual experiences as occupants of the Defeo murder house. Director Stuart Rosenberg must have been an Ed Wood prodigy.
28 Days Of Dread
posted on 20 May 2009*The Amityville SPOILERS* November 1974; Ronald DeFeo, Jr. kills his parents, two younger brothers and two younger sister in their home at 112 Ocean Drive, Amityville, New York.December 1975; George Lutz (James Brolin) and his wife Kathy (Margot Kidder) move into the house with Kathy's two sons and daughter from her first marriage, and soon they understand that something's definitely *not* right with the house, as does the Priest (Rod Steiger) who tries to bless the house; 28 days later, they left, not taking any of their belongings with them nor reclaiming them ever again.Why? This movie was based on a book written on one of the most controversial haunting stories ever happened; nobody knows exactly if the Lutz' claim that the house was haunted was true or false (and probably we'll never know, because both George and Kathy have passed away recently - Kathy in 2004, during the shooting of the Amityville Horror remake, and George a few months ago).What I can say is; the movie manages to create an eerie atmosphere with the score (the main theme in particular), and throughout some situations (the priest's attempt at blessing the house, or the infamous 'babysitter' scene), but the actors seem to have no shame about overacting (especially Margot Kidder, who seems to practically act Kathy if she was a cross between Nancy Drew and that dement Nonnie Parry from The Poseidon Adventure), and the ending is a total letdown (the kids look like they're bored instead of scared out of their minds - and why is the girl smiling when George runs back to the house to get the useless dog?).Amityville Horror (1979): 6/10.
The True Amityville "Horror" - The DeFeo Murders
posted on 03 May 2009I've read the book by Jay Anson as compiled by the alleged account by George and Kathy Lutz and I've also watched the movie starring James Brolin and Margot Kidder. Though based on a "true" story about the alleged haunted house on Long Island's south shore some 35 miles east of New York City, the only horror the Lutzes faced, were not ghosts and goblins or any possessive evil spirit during their 28 days of "terror", they were financial ones. George could not keep up with the burden of Amityville's taxes and the mortgage he had to pay on the house, which drained him physically that led to frustration and anger moods that affected the entire family. The story was fabricated by the Lutzes in order to sell a story for a financial gain.
Three different families resided at the home prior to the DeFeos, and reading the history of the house, it was a dream home built by a couple, John and Catherine Moynahan, back in 1925 who resided there until they died. Their daughter, Eileen Fitzgerald, moved in with her family until she sold the home to a John and Mary Riley in 1960. The Rileys had marriage problems, divorced and sold the house to the DeFeo family in 1965 where they lived nine years until 23 year-old Ronnie "Butch" DeFeo murdered his family on the early morning hours of November 14, 1974. This was the only real horror to occur in the normally peaceful Amityville.
Butch DeFeo claimed he heard voices prior to the murders, and this was due to his drug addiction to heroin. Aside from the DeFeos with their constant fights and the Lutzes with their financial woes, many other families who have resided there were happy ones. Subsequent residents experienced no problems whatsoever and lived normally as in any other home. The quarter moon windows that gave an "eerie" impression as seen on the movie were replaced by square ones. The house used on the film was one that was replicated to look like the real house, but was located in Toms River, NJ. Comparing the movie prop with the real home, the prop had the chimney exposed along the exterior wall, the quarter moon windows were larger and the prop was painted white. The real house was mainly dark brown back in 1974 and 1975 with white trim. The enclosed porch and the back of the house were painted white. Currently, the real house is painted entirely white.
The Lutzes claim that the house was possessed by evil spirits was, in my opinion, completely bunk as was a similar occurrence in West Pittston, PA where a movie based on Jack and Janet Smurl's account on their "cursed" duplex home on "The Haunted". Both movies should only be based on fiction and not fact.
A decent horror film
posted on 29 Apr 2009The Amityville Horror is a decent horror film.It has some effective scares and a great score by Lalo Schifrin.The performances were good,especially James Brolin and Margot Kidder as George and Kathy Lutz,Rod Steiger as Father Delaney,Don Stroud as his younger priest friend Father Bolen and Val Avery as Sgt. Gionfriddo.A decent way to spend 2 hours.
Movie actually PROVES the story is a hoax
posted on 27 Apr 2009This is one of those amazing films where NOTHING seems to happen. Scene after scene of James Brolin acting rude and obnoxious, then some doors gets locked, cut to Steiger (a horrible performance) jawing about having the flu, then repeat. Eventually, the family leaves the house...that's it. Boring and relentlessly tepid and unfrightening. It's become common knowledge that the story is untrue, and this movie actually proves it by showing nothing that couldn't be produced by the Lutz's overactive imaginations, their broken heating systems (that's the truth, folks!), and George's need to get some cash. Three years later, this was practically remade as POLTERGEIST, a haunted house flick that deserves your hard-earned money a lot more than this poverty-row snore. Oh by the way, "Jodie" was actually the neighbor's cat, Evinrude, who liked to climb up trees and look in the windows of adjacent houses.
Grizzly Adams is a scary M.F.
posted on 26 Apr 2009Yo, this movie was HYPE. I may have c****ed my pants the first time I saw it. I had nightmares for a week. When all that crazy stuff happened in the little girls room, like pig beast in the window and the babysitter in the closet, I was like: whoa, this is scary. The best part is when the wife drops the groceries in the driveway and you know Grizzy Adams really wants to hit her but he doesn't because the cameras are rollin. Yeah, don't watch this at night. It's damn scary.
Put some pants on, Brolin!
posted on 17 Apr 2009The Amityville Horror if nothing else is a perfect example of what happens when yelling is substituted for acting. Our (supposedly true) story deals with a family moving into a creepy old home on Long Island and the terror which ensues. It seems that the last family to live there was murdered by one of its members, and he looked exactly like the guy whose family just moved in! (gasp) The house also rests on what was once the spot where the Shinnecock Indians housed their insane tribal members. Oh, and there is a passage way to hell underneath the basement stairs, too. Take my word for it: This is not a good house to live in!Simply put, this film is not very good. James Brolin as the family patriarch is mean-spirited, dour, and looks like a zombie. He spends most of his time chopping wood, sharpening his ax, and walking around in his underwear. His wife is well-played by Margot Kidder. She seems the most upbeat of these characters until the whole experience overwhelms her, also. Rod Steiger shouts most of his lines, and basically turns in an unconvincing performance until he goes blind. But by far the worst performance is turned in by the woman portraying the psychic girlfriend of Brolin's employee. (Helen Shaver, I think). Overall, nobody is that convincing.The effects are pretty hokey throughout. We see rooms full of flies, a black cat, a pair of fake-looking red eyes, and blood dripping out of the walls. None of these things are remotely scary.There is one legitimately frightening scene, though. In it, a babysitter is trapped in a closet. She repeatedly pounds on the door to get out until her hands begin to bleed. Then, the light goes out on her and she lets out an anguished scream. For some reason, that scene scares the heck out of me.Alas, one scary scene does not a horror film make! I'll give it 4 of 10 stars.ps: another classic line delivered with a shout:Brolin sitting in a chair begins yelling "I'M COMING APART!!!!!!!!!" for no discernible reason. There are plenty of better horror films to watch this time of year.So sayeth the Hound.
A disappointing knock-off
posted on 09 Apr 2009The film starts out well enough, but alas it goes no where. In the end, nothing happens. Frankly the Simpson's Halloween special parody of this film is better than the original... which leads to the next point, there is very little in this which is original - much of it is taken straight out of other horror films that were made shortly before it. A few moments are lifted as is intact...
Plot holes abound... things are introduced which are never resolved, characters are brought in who ultimately serve no purpose... thoroughly disappointing.
The title "The Amityville Horror" is self referential in a quite unintentional way.
The dvd transfer is nice enough though should you actually wish to watch it.
Okay-I guess
posted on 28 Mar 2009Okay, so the effects weren't as up to date as they are now and maybe the acting did suck. But I thought that this was an okay movie. I heard from other people that the book explains more than the movie does and it goes into greater detail. My little story that goes with this movie was that I was watching the movie with a bunch of my friends. When it got to a really scary part, everyone was so intense that when the lady on the movie said, "Hell," the power went out! It was so freaky and everyone laughed afterwards.
AWESOME
posted on 28 Aug 2009Well I wasn't sure what to expect considering it's an old movie and is now on DVD but needless to say I was happily surprised. I was just as scared watching it as I was the first time I watched it. It's very clear and totally worth the buy. The music still gives me chills sometimes haha!