The Amityville Horror (1979)

Newlyweds and their three kids move into a large house where a mass murder was committed. They start to experience strange, inexplicable manifestations which have strong effects on everyone living or visiting the house.

Director:

Stuart Rosenberg

Writers:

Sandor Stern (screenplay), Jay Anson (based on the book by)

Stars:

James Brolin, Margot Kidder, Rod Steiger

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 7 nominations.

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

Storyline

Based on a true story that was claimed by writer Jay Anson, The Amityville Horror is about a large house on the coast of Long Island where newlyweds George and Kathy Lutz and their three children move into the house that they hope will be their dream house which ends up in terror. Despite full disclosure by the real estate agent of the house's history, George and Kathy buy the house. George says, "Houses don't have memories," but they turn to their family priest Father Delaney who believes the house is haunted and performs an exorcism on the house. But satanic forces in the house causes him to become blind and makes him very sick. With the help of another priest Father Bolen and a police detective, George and Kathy face the fears of the house, but not knowing the forces are planning to possess George and then the children.

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Plot Keywords:

haunted house | male underwear | priest | fear | nightmare | 

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Taglines:

For God's sake, get out!

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

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.

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Goofs

When the bartender acts shocked at the resemblance of George to Ronald DeFeo, (the young man who killed his family in the house), he tells him that George is seated on the bar stool that DeFeo was sitting on, when he was arrested. Ronald DeFeo wasn't arrested in the bar, he was arrested in the police station, after he had confessed to the killings, after hours of interrogation.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Cop at the House: Jesus Christ, it gets worse all the time.

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Crazy Credits

This motion picture is based on the book "The Amityville Horror." Certain characters and events have been changed to heighten dramatic effect.

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Alternate Versions

Original German version was cut by ca. 17 minutes. The 2005 DVD release contains the complete film but with a new dubbing.

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Connections

Referenced in The Modern Things (2003)

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Soundtracks

Blue Moon
(uncredited)
Written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart

User Reviews

S10 Reviews: The Amityville Horror (1979)

George and Kathy Lutz are looking for a place to anchor down and raise a family. The Lutz's and their children (Kathy's from a previous marriage) settle on an impossibly cheap, large and beautiful shore house. But 28 days later the macabre and scary happenings force them to leave…leaving all their earthly possession behind. During the course of those 28 days, the family goes through all kinds of hell a room full of flies, demonic voices and a pig with glowing red eyes. What kind of past does that house have that would make everything horribly wrong. Based on a true story.

Real or hoax, you decide but "The Amityville Horror" has all the trappings of an excellent haunted house story. Too bad that the filmmakers falter a bit with a lack of character development that also ends up stifling the actors in the film, that would have helped out immensely. A creepy music score (the one rejected for "The Exorcist") and several good set-pieces help out but the end of the second act kind of gets stale. A good supernatural thriller.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 July 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Amityville Horror

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,700,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,843,467, 29 July 1979

Gross USA:

$86,432,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$86,432,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

American International Pictures (AIP), Cinema 77, Professional Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1