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The Amityville Horror (1979)

R  |   |  Drama, Horror  |  27 July 1979 (USA)
6.2
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Ratings: 6.2/10 from 25,995 users  
Reviews: 285 user | 134 critic

Newlyweds move into a large house where a mass murder was committed, and experience strange manifestations which drive them away.

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(screenplay), (book), 2 more credits »
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Title: The Amityville Horror (1979)

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Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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John Larch ...
Natasha Ryan ...
Amy
K.C. Martel ...
Meeno Peluce ...
Michael Sacks ...
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Irene Dailey ...
Marc Vahanian ...
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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 the evil spirit 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 spirit is planning to possess George and then the children... Written by <Blythe379@cs.com>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

The best-selling novel about a haunted house... has become real! See more »

Genres:

Drama | Horror

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

27 July 1979 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Amityville Horror  »

Box Office

Gross:

$86,432,520 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Even though James Brolin became friendly with George Lutz and his children, he was highly doubtful of their story. See more »

Goofs

Kathy Lutz's hair color and length change several times from scene to scene. See more »

Quotes

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

Crazy Credits

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

Connections

Referenced in Heartstoppers: Horror at the Movies (1992) See more »

Soundtracks

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

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

S10 Reviews: The Amityville Horror (1979)
18 April 2005 | by (The Void) – See all my reviews

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.


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