The Amityville Horror (2005) flashes the phrase, “Based on the True Story,” at its beginning. However, the film tests how far one can teeter with the words, “based on.” Considering only the film’s first five minutes are “based on” the actual story and the rest of the running-time is just winged to assist in raising the scare factor, The Amityville Horror is a total traitor of an adaptation. Despite it being light years ahead of its time compared to the original, The Amityville Horror doesn’t accomplish much more than a few solid frights.
While living in a large white house—considered to be cursed, Ronald Defeo slays his wife and children and then claims that voices from within his house told him to murder his family. One year later, Kathy Lutz (Melissa George) and her new husband George (Ryan Reynolds) are in the market for a new house. The couple stumbles upon a house that, at a glance, appears to be out of their price range, but in fact, it is a hellacious deal. “What’s the catch?” says George. “There is always a catch.”
This question prompts the real-estate agent to inform the man and woman that one year prior, a family was murdered in the house and the slayer said that “the house made him do it.” George retorts, “Houses don’t kill people; people kill people.” Thus, they decide to make a down payment and move in. Consequently, George soon finds himself following in Ronald Defeo’s footsteps—descending further into wickedness with each passing day.
In terms of horror, The Amityville Horror is respectable. Aside from the “boo” moments, Amityville even has a few scenes that both make your skin crawl and your blood curdle. On the other hand, scares are really all The Amityville Horror has to flaunt—that is, with the exception of Ryan Reynolds’ ripped upper-body.
Article comments
1 - Missy
I liked this movie. It gave you a suspense to were you wanted to watch it to see what would happen. It scares you to make you jump and cover your eyes with your pillow. But then again if your one of those people who criticizes movie by saying things like "thats soo fake" then this movie isnt for you because you could find a lot of faults in this movie from the actors to the scenes.
2 - Dakota
just so you know catch is spelled with a k because it was the guy who totured the peoples last name
3 - Amber
It's only a movie. People shouldn't care for this type of thing. Some may be based on the REAL story but some of it may not be. If it's based on the real story, it might have some bits and peices of the true story. Yet I fell in love with this movie. It caught my attention right from the start. I've always loved scary movies. This is my number one favorite.