The Amityville Horror (film series)

THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (15)

D: Stuart Rosenberg

AIP/Cinema 77 (Ronald Saland & Elliot Geisinger)

USA 🇺🇸 1979

118 mins

Horror

W: Sandor Stern [based on the book by Jay Anson]

DP: Fred J. Koenecamp

Ed: Robert Brown

Mus: Lalo Schifrin

Josh Brolin (George Lutz), Margot Kidder (Kathleen Lutz), Rod Steiger (Father Delaney), Don Stroud (Father Bolen), Murray Hamilton (Father Ryan)

When The Amityville Horror was originally released, there was much mystery surrounding the book it was based upon, supposedly about factual events which may or may not have happened at the Long Island house in the 1970's.

Newlywed couple George & Kathy moved into the property with their two young children and dog and over their short stay experienced strange manifestations of evil which drove them away. Unfortunately, the power of the film is lessened by the admission that the Lutzes fabricated the entire story to avoid bankruptcy due to the mortgage of the house being unaffordable to them.

Still, the film has moments of genuine terror, punctuated by Lalo Schifrin's deliciously eerie music. Rod Steiger's ridiculously over the top performance, however, injects some unintentional comedy (as do some other supporting performances), whilst the house itself remains a creepy landmark of horror cinema.

Many more movies followed (well into double figures), including sequels, prequels, television movies, spinoffs and remakes. All of which are quite poor.

6/10

James Brolin & Margot Kidder in The Amityville Horror

Did You Know:

Due to all the unwanted fame the book and film had brought upon the real house in Amityville, the current owners have replaced the "evil eyes" windows with normal rectangle-shaped windows.

Award Wins & Nominations:

MILSTEAD MOVIE AWARDS:

Wins: 1 (Best Original Dramatic Score)

Nominations: none

Worst of the Year: 1 win (Worst Supporting Actor); 1 nomination (Worst Supporting Actress)

OSCARS:

Wins: none

Nominations: 1 (Best Original Score)

BAFTAS

Wins: none

Nominations: none

OTHER WINS:

none

AMITYVILLE II: THE POSSESSION (18)

D: Damiano Damiani

Dino de Laurentiis / Orion (Ira N. Smith & Stephen R. Greenwald)

USA 🇺🇸 1982

104 mins

Horror

W: Tommy Lee Wallace [based on the book 'Murder In Amityville' by Hans Holzer]

DP: Franco DiGiacomo

Ed: Sam O'Steen

Mus: Lalo Schifrin

Jack Magner (Sonny Montelli), Burt Young (Anthony Montelli), Rutyana Alda (Dolores Montelli), Diane Franklin (Patricia Montelli), James Olson (Father Frank Adamsky)

It's almost unbelievable that this second instalment of the Amityville movies has more basis in real-life facts than its predecessor, but that doesn’t necessarily make it a better movie overall, though it is probably much scarier.

This prequel follows the events which led up to the Amityville house becoming 'haunted', when a young man slaughtered his family as they slept and then blamed it on demonic possession.

Based on the real life events of the DeFeo family, it's easy to see which parts are exaggerated and the dialogue and some of the supporting performances are rather embarrassing, but as far as sequels/prequels go, it certainly isn't atrociously bad, especially when compared to those which followed. Personally, I just think it’s a shame that it didn’t stick more closely to the actual events, which are far more interesting than a possession-themed horror-shocker.

5/10

Did You Know:

The house in the film, as in the original The Amityville Horror (1979) movie, is not the actual house as depicted in the best-selling novel, as that dwelling was unavailable to shoot in for both films. The home in both movies was a Colonial style replica situated in Toms River, New Jersey.

Award Wins & Nominations:

MILSTEAD MOVIE AWARDS:

Wins: none

Nominations: none

Worst of the Year: 2 nominations (Worst Supporting Actor; Worst Supporting Actress)

OSCARS:

Wins: none

Nominations: none

BAFTAS

Wins: none

Nominations: none

OTHER WINS:

none

Warning: in this movie you are the victim

AMITYVILLE 3-D (aka AMITYVILLE III: THE DEMON) (18)

D: Richard Fleischer

Orion / Dino De Laurentiis Corporation / Estudios Churubusco (Stephen F. Keston & Antonio Rubio)

US/Mexico 🇺🇸🇲🇽 1983

93 mins

Horror

W: William Wales (David Ambrose)

DP: Fred Schuler

Ed: Frank J. Urioste

Mus: Howard Blake

Tony Roberts (John Baxter), Tess Harper (Nancy Baxter), Robert Joy (Dr. Elliot West), Candy Clark (Melanie), Lori Laughlin (Susan Baxter), Meg Ryan (Lisa)

A sequel in all but name to the previous Amityville Horror films, with barely any reference to the Lutz family from the 1979 film, nor the Montelli (DeFeo) family from the 1982 prequel. The house is still the same though, which skeptical journalist John Baxter buys just to prove that it’s supernatural reputation is nothing but lies, which sets him up to look quite the fool when he discovers that it is, indeed, haunted.

It’s a very average supernatural horror movie, with boring characters, flat performances, cheesy dialogue, poor special effects and was clearly only made to cash-in on the short-lived 3D fad of 1983.

4/10

Did You Know:

The character of John Baxter is loosely based on investigator Stephen Kaplan, who at the time was trying to prove that the Lutzes’ story that formed the basis for Jay Anson’s book was a hoax.

Award Wins & Nominations:

MILSTEAD MOVIE AWARDS:

Wins: none

Nominations: none

Worst of the Year: 4 nominations (Worst Ensemble Cast, Worst Horror Movie, Worst Original Score, Worst Visual Effects)

OSCARS:

Wins: none

Nominations: none

BAFTAS

Wins: none

Nominations: none

OTHER WINS:

None

AMITYVILLE: THE EVIL ESCAPES (aka AMITYVILLE 4; AMITYVILLE HORROR 4: THE EVIL ESCAPES) (18)

D: Sandor Stern

Steve White Productions / Spectacor (Barry Bernardi)

US 🇺🇸 1989

95 mins

Horror

W: Sandor Stern [based on the novel by John G. Jones]

DP: Tom Richmond

Ed: Skip Schoolnik

Mus: Rick Conrad

Patty Duke (Nancy Evans), Jane Wyatt (Alice Leacock), Fredric Lehne (Father Kibbler), Lou Hancock (Peggy), Brandy Gold (Jessica Evans)

The evil from the Amityville house manifests itself in a lamp from the attic, which is taken to a new residence to haunt with supernatural spookiness, which is easily overcome by unplugging the lamp and throwing it out.

Since this was a straight-to-TV movie, originally broadcast on NBC, I don’t think it’s particularly fair to judge it too harshly, even if it isn’t very good. It’s not really worth wasting unnecessary time with.

4/10

Did You Know:

While the credits suggest the film is based on John G. Jones' book of the same name, the book is actually a collection of short stories, and none of the stories were adapted for the film. Instead, a new story with similar elements to those in the book was created.

Award Wins & Nominations:

MILSTEAD MOVIE AWARDS:

Wins: none

Nominations: none

Worst of the Year: 3 nominations (Worst Supporting Actress, Worst Horror Movie, Worst Sequel)

OSCARS:

Wins: none

Nominations: none

BAFTAS

Wins: none

Nominations: none

OTHER WINS:

None

A return to the most dangerous house in the world

THE AMITYVILLE CURSE (18)

D: Tom Berry

Vidmark / Allegro (Franco Battista)

Canada 🇨🇦 1990

91 mins

Horror

W: Michael Krueger, Doug Olson & Norvell Rose [based on the book by Hans Holzer]

DP: Rodney Gibbons

Ed: Franco Battista

Mus: Milan Kymlicka

Kim Coates (Frank), Dawna Wightman (Diana), Helen Hughes (Mrs. Moriarty), David Stein (Marvin), Anthony Dean Rubeš (Bill)

I treated the previous instalment of The Amityville Horror series of films quite kindly since it was a TV movie, and whilst this was a straight-to-video sequel, it just isn’t anywhere near as entertaining, for want of a better word, than the previous film. In fact, this one is downright boring.

Any house will do for this fifth instalment, which explores the aftermath of the DeFeo murders, rather than the Lutz Family’s “experiences” depicted in the first movie.

While it does attempt to do something different, losing the iconic house depicted in the first three films is like losing an integral character. I don’t think any of the films are particularly great, the house does create a foreboding atmosphere which does unsettle, and whilst a change of location was probably necessary for a Canadian shoot, this film just doesn’t carry any sense of threat at all.

Still, it’s slightly better than the one about a dollhouse, but not by much.

3/10

Did You Know:

This is the first and only Amityville sequel not to feature the original house.

Award Wins & Nominations:

MILSTEAD MOVIE AWARDS:

Wins: none

Nominations: none

Worst of the Year: 4 nominations (Worst Screenplay - Adaptation, Worst Horror Film, Worst Sequel/Prequel, Worst Makeup Design)

OSCARS:

Wins: none

Nominations: none

BAFTAS

Wins: none

Nominations: none

OTHER WINS:

None

AMITYVILLE DOLLHOUSE (18)

D: Steve White

Promark/Spectacor/Zeta (Zane W. Levitt, Mark Yellen & Steve White)

USA 🇺🇸 1996

93 mins

Horror

W: Joshua Michael Stern

DP: Tom Callaway

Ed: Kert Vandermuelen

Mus: Ray Colcord

Robin Thomas (Bill Martin), Starr Andreeff (Claire Martin), Allen Cutler (Todd Martin), Rachel Duncan (Jessica Martin), Franc Ross (Tobias), Lisa Robin Kelly (Dana)

The seventh film of the series sees the evil curse from the Amityville house manifest itself in a child's dollhouse.

It's best not to think of why someone would even build a dollhouse replica of a supposedly haunted Long Island house, nevermind how it became filled with evil spirits. The screenwriters and director never gave it a second thought and neither should the audience.

2/10

Did You Know:

This is the eighth film in the Amityville Horror series.

Award Wins & Nominations:

MILSTEAD MOVIE AWARDS:

Wins: none

Nominations: none

Worst of the Year: 2 (Worst Excuse for a Horror; Worst Sequel/Prequel); 3 nominations (Worst Film; Worst Director; Worst Screenplay - Adaptation)

OSCARS:

Wins: none

Nominations: none

BAFTAS

Wins: none

Nominations: none

OTHER WINS:

none

Reviews Coming Soon:

AMITYVILLE 1992: IT'S ABOUT TIME

AMITYVILLE: A NEW GENERATION