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IMDb > The Amityville Horror (1979)
The Amityville Horror
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The Amityville Horror (1979) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
5.8/10   9,163 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 1% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Stuart Rosenberg
Writers:
Sandor Stern (screenplay)
Jay Anson (book)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Amityville Horror on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
27 July 1979 (USA) more
Tagline:
"For God's Sake, Get Out!" more
Plot:
Newlyweds move into a house where a murder was committed, and experience strange manifestations which drive them away. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(14 articles)
Lists of Doom Xii: Flatline
 (From Fangoria. 6 May 2009, 4:59 PM, PDT)

Margot Kidder cast in Rob Zombie's 'H2'
 (From Reel Loop. 19 March 2009, 9:51 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Who says the Lutz's don't throw wild parties?! more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
117 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Netherlands:16 | USA:R (No. 25653) | South Korea:12 | Canada:PG (Canadian Home Video rating) | Italy:VM14 (re-rating) | Italy:VM18 (original rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Chile:18 | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Iceland:16 | Norway:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:X (original rating) | West Germany:16 | UK:15
Filming Locations:
Connecticut, USA more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
James Brolin was hesitant when he was first offered the role of George Lutz. He was told that there was no script and that he must obtain a copy of Jay Anson's novel and read it as soon as possible. Brolin started the book one evening at seven o'clock and was still reading at two o'clock in the morning. He had hung a pair of his pants up in the room earlier and at a really "tense" part in the book, the pants fell down from wherever they had been hanging. Brolin jumped out of his chair, nearly crashing his head into the ceiling. It was then that Brolin said, "There's something to this story." He agreed to do the movie. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Jackie goes into the closet and the door slams shut behind her she goes to the door and starts knocking revealing blood already on her knuckles. Her knuckles are supposed to be bloodied from knocking and she has not even started. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Cop at the House: Jesus Christ, it gets worse all the time.
more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in Scary Movie 2 (2001) more

FAQ

Is "The Amityville Horror" based on a book?
Whose face appears on the wall when George chops the hole into the red room?
Why was Kathy Lutz's face wrinkled and toothless in some of the scenes at the end of the movie?
more
2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful:-
Who says the Lutz's don't throw wild parties?!, 6 January 2006
8/10
Author: Nightman from Brentwood, USA

Semi-classic thriller of the 70's, requires some patients from the audience but ultimately becomes a nicely moody film about America's most infamous haunted house.

Couple moves their family into a Long Island house, where the previous owners where murdered, and begins to believe that there are evil forces at work in the new home.

Based upon Jay Anson's novel, which itself is supposedly a true story, The Amityville Horror is a film that largely relies upon it's eerie, unsettling atmosphere to induce chills and it often works well. It also packs the occasional good shock. While some may see this films subtlety and occasional weirdness as a senseless plot, it really helps to imply the realism of the film. It plays out well, building tension slowly to a climatic finale and a open conclusion that leaves a great sense of mystery. Kudos also go to a wonderfully chilling musical score.

The cast is fairly good, stars Brolin and Kidder are in top-form.

While it may be bashed by many critics, The Amityville Horror has remained one of the 70's better horror oddities, and has become a bit of a cult classic.

*** out of ****

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The Shining? swirlsofhoney
The Stupidest Scene in the Movie? jbartelone
i am dying to see this movie. where can i watch it *online*? herpeshilton
Book. VivaLaUsh
'Hidden' face in last scene perfectisboring
Is this whole thing real...or not.! kippylou16-1
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