“The Amityville Horror” is the most memorable late 70′s horror film, running a close second to the Jamie Lee Curtis cult classic, “Halloween.” Unforgettable theme haunts the opening with softly sighing voices singing in a child’s dreamlike chant. Enter the brisk autumn breeze sending leaves scurrying across the lawn of Amityville’s most diabolical residence, as we’re drawn into the true and horrid murder of the DeFeo family.
Followed immediately by the supposedly true story of a new family, the Lutz’s, who have become the new occupants of the sinister house. James Brolin and Margot Kidder do an outstanding job as George and Kathy Lutz, who with three young kids take a deal of a lifetime and move into their dream house. With no idea of the nightmare that awaits them. Ignoring the six brutal murders that preceded their moving in, they are soon besieged with one supernatural event after another. Rod Steiger gives a strong performance as the caring and desperately faithful Priest, who is striving to free the Lutz family from the house’s demonic spirits.
“Amityville Horror” a masterpiece? No. Edge of your seat haunted house classic? Yes. The 2005 remake, with all of it’s computer generated special effects and CGI gimmicks, couldn’t even come close to touching this 1979 frightfest. Whether the real George and Kathy Lutz experienced these supernatural events or simply just made them up, who knows? I do know it sure made great material for one of the best haunted house horror movies ever, and I thank them.
