Review - The Amityville Horror (1979)

First of all who moves into a house where six people were murdered just over a year ago? Second of all, if you do move into a house where six people were murdered just over a year ago, wouldn't you get the heck out as soon as you heard strange little pitter patterings? ...


... or when you notice that anyone even slightly involved with the church cannot step foot into your house without getting sick? - or when hordes of flies show up instantaneously at the wrong time of year? This all goes back to my theory on Burnt Offerings - if something seems too good to be true, it is damn it, it is! And run, don't walk away! Okay, now that I've gotten that off of my chest...

The Lutz's seem like the average Brady Bunch seventies patchwork family. You've got Kathy and George Lutz, newlyweds with three children from Kathy's first marriage and their dog Harry. They are looking for their first home. They find their dream home on the market on Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York. Only problem is that it was the site of the brutal slaying of the Defeo family by their eldest son Ronald Defeo - who, by the way strikes an uncanny resemblance to George Lutz. Putting all that aside the family moves into the beautiful riverside New England home and begins living their American Dream. Their dream soon turns into a nightmare though when strange things start to happen in the house.

The strangeness begins when Father Delaney comes to bless the house and is lured upstairs by the sounds of laughing children. His first encounter leaves him sick and terrified. Every successive attempt by him to contact the Lutz family ends in his feeling ill and/or being hurt. As a matter of fact it seems that no one with any ties to the church is able to spend anytime in the house. It makes me wonder why Kathy Lutz didn't get sick while praying or why her daughter Amy could actually sing "Jesus Loves Me" to her invisible friend Jody without repercussions.

Speaking of Jody, there is just something about an evil pig, isn't there? I think the whole Jody, invisible friend thing scared me to pieces mainly because lots of kids have invisible friends. When do you know if they are just a figment of imagination or a demonic pig plotting to kill your entire family? Kids are so innocent that they wouldn't know the difference anyway, it's not like they could tell you. One of the freakiest parts of the film to me was when Amy (after the babysitter being locked in the closet bit) says to Kathy "Jody doesn't like George!"

One thing I picked up on while watching The Amityville Horror again is that when Kathy and George Lutz are touring the house with the real estate agent the murders flash with each bedroom door they open. I didn't remember that from when I first watched the movie but it did make chills run when I noticed it this time around! Another thing I noticed this time around is when Kathy Lutz is alone in the house and the drunk guy shows up at her doorstep with a six pack in his hand claiming he is from the neighborhood and they want to come in and welcome them. I couldn't really discern if he was a crackpot from off the street, or a true (drunken) neighbor or maybe he was a manifestation of the evil in the house trying to get her to let it in? (Although the latter seems unnecessary because the evil was already in the house.)

Whether or not you believe The Amityville Horror to be a haunting or to be a hoax, the movie certainly has its place as a classic. With the remake just released you are certain to be hearing more about the original and it definitely holds it's own.

The Amityville Horror Movie Cast and Credits

Directed by
Stuart Rosenberg

Writing credits
Jay Anson book
Sandor Stern

Cast (in credits order)
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
Elsa Raven .... Mrs. Townsend
Ellen Saland .... Bride
Eddie Barth .... Agucci
Hank Garrett .... Bartender
James Tolkan .... Coroner
Carmine Foresta .... Cop at the House
Peter Maloney .... Newspaper Clerk
Charlie Welch .... Carpenter
J.R. Miller .... Boy
Patty Burtt .... Girl
Michael Hawkins .... New York State Trooper
Richard Hughes .... 2nd New York State Trooper
Jim Dukas .... Neighbor
Baxter Harris .... Cop #2 at the House
Michael Stearns .... Policeman
Jack Krupnick .... Dead Father