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Retro Review: The Amityville Horror (1979)
By HammerFanatic
Feb 9, 2006, 22:03

In 1979 the film, The Amityville Horror hit theatres and spawned several theatrical and made-for-TV sequels. Directed by Stuart Rosenberg (Cool Hand Luke) and written by, Jan Anson (Book) and Sandor Stern (Screenplay), the film had some top name stars in, James Brolin, Margot Kidder, Rod Steiger, Don Stroud and Murray Hamilton.

When George (James Brolin) and Kathy Lutz (Margot Kidder) stumble upon a home that seems too good to be true, they should have gone with those feelings, but instead, move themselves and their kids into the home on Long Island. They soon discover that the house was very available and cheaply priced because of the horrors that had taken place in the past history of the home. Some years earlier, an entire family was murdered in their sleep and it would seem this house has taken on a life of its own. George and Kathy enlist a priest, Father Delaney (Rod Steiger) to bless the home. Delaney arrives to offer the blessing and finds nobody home, but he proceeds to enter the home and wander through the house. He's soon attacked by a swarm of flies and the house basically screams at him to, 'Get Out!'. Delaney tries to call the Lutzes once he's in the safe confines of his office, the phone burns his hand and he decides that Satan is at work in the home. When Delaney tells his superiors of the odd happenings, they naturally think the old boy has lost it and Father Ryan (Murray Hamilton) tells Delaney to take a vacation!

The Lutzes continue to live a nightmarish existence in the home....Kathy becomes hysterical time and time again, George, who closely resembles the man who murdered his family in that home, begins to become very withdrawn and moody and still, the family continues staying there and this is with doors flying off hinges, windows slam on hands and those creepy, strange voices at night! The family even finds a hidden room in the basement, a room that a psychic friend claims is the gateway to Hell...does this send the family packing and running for their lives....nope!

 Some small bits of trivia associated with this film are:

-In spite of becoming friendly with George Lutz and the children, actor James Brolin doubted their story.

-Jay Anson, the writer of the book, 'The Amityville Horror', wrote a screenplay for this film, but the producers turned his screenplay down. Sandor Stern was the eventual screenwriter for the film, as the producers preferred his take on the story.

I first saw this film either on HBO or perhaps it was a rented VHS, but I instantly didn't like this film at all and I've never watched it again or any of the sequels, until watching the DVD. After sitting down and watching the DVD, I'm sorry to say, my opinion of the film hasn't changed in twenty years or more. I just didn't find the film scary or the least bit interesting and it hasn't improved with age, either. I suppose the acting is OK, but no one person really gives what I'd consider a stellar performance and that's a shame, given some of the talent this film, employed. Now, there are some wonderful, 'haunted house' films out there.....The Haunting (1963) and The Legend of Hell House (1973), immediately come to mind, but for me, The Amityville Horror is a jumbled mess that might have had some promise, but sadly, dropped the ball in it's efforts to scare or even bring any emotions to the surface, other than boredom.

Read John Marrone's take on The Reality of the Amityville Horror

Checkout our review of the Amityville Horror (2005) remake

Buy the Amityville Horror Collection on DVD at Amazon.com

Buy the remake of the Amityville Horror on DVD at Amazon.com