The Amityville Horror Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Newlyweds buy a house where the previous owners were murdered, only to discover that cheap real estate comes at the price of demonic possession and Ryan Reynolds with an axe.

🍿 The Amityville Horror: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The DeFeo Murders

The film opens with a depiction of the gruesome murders that took place in the Amityville house a year prior. Ronald DeFeo Jr. murders his entire family in their sleep, claiming he heard voices telling him to do so. This sets the stage for the supernatural events that will plague the Lutz family.

The Lutz Family Moves In

George and Kathy Lutz, a newly married couple with Kathy’s three children, find what seems like their dream home in Amityville, Long Island, at a surprisingly affordable price. Unaware of the full extent of the house’s dark history, they decide to purchase it, eager to start a new life. George plans to use the basement as his contracting business office.

Supernatural Occurrences Begin

Soon after moving in, the Lutz family experiences a series of unsettling and increasingly terrifying events. Chelsea, the youngest daughter, befriends an imaginary friend named Jodie, who is revealed to be the ghost of one of the murdered DeFeo children. George’s behavior starts to change, becoming increasingly erratic and abusive, while Kathy and the children experience visions and hallucinations.

Father Callaway’s Encounter

Concerned about the escalating paranormal activity, Kathy seeks help from Father Callaway, a local priest. During an attempt to bless the house, Father Callaway is attacked by a swarm of flies and hears a demonic voice commanding him to leave. He warns Kathy to get out of the house, indicating the presence of a malevolent force.

The Ketcham Connection

Kathy researches the history of the house and discovers that it was built on land once owned by Reverend Jeremiah Ketcham, a cult preacher who committed atrocities against Native Americans in the 17th century. His dark past is revealed as a possible source of the evil haunting the house. George descends into a basement and is faced with a vision of past Ketcham slicing his throat.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• George Lutz (Ryan Reynolds): A newlywed husband and stepfather who becomes increasingly violent and possessed by the evil forces within the Amityville house.
• Kathy Lutz (Melissa George): A mother and wife who fights to protect her family from the supernatural horrors and her husband’s growing madness.
• Chelsea Lutz (Chloë Grace Moretz): The youngest daughter who is the first to connect with the house’s supernatural presence through Jodie DeFeo.
• Father Callaway (Philip Baker Hall): A priest who attempts to bless the Lutz home but is driven away by demonic forces.
• Jodie Defeo (Isabel Conner): The ghost of a murdered DeFeo child who becomes a malevolent presence influencing the Lutz family.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Father Callaway: “Leave this house!” – The priest, terrified by the demonic forces, warns Kathy to leave the house immediately.
• Chelsea Lutz: “Jodie’s my friend.” – Chelsea frequently says this when talking about her ‘imaginary’ friend, who is actually a malevolent spirit in the house.
• Kathy Lutz: “What have you done?” – Kathy says this in horror and disbelief after George murders their dog, Harry.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $19,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $65,233,369
• Worldwide Gross: $107,516,369

💥 The Amityville Horror Reviews

Personal Review

I remember seeing ‘The Amityville Horror’ in theaters and being genuinely creeped out. Ryan Reynolds was surprisingly good as George Lutz, really selling the slow descent into madness. The scene where the priest is attacked by flies? Still gives me the shivers! It definitely has its flaws, especially with the over-the-top scares, but it’s a fun, popcorn horror flick that always gets a rewatch from me every Halloween season. The creepy little girl, Jodie, and her twisted smile were a standout too – nightmare fuel!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of haunted house movies”
  • “Viewers looking for jump scares”
  • “Those interested in true crime stories, even if loosely adapted”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Gore”
  • “Disturbing images”
  • “Child endangerment”
  • “Mild sexual content”
  • “Animal death”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “While Ryan Reynolds gives a committed performance, ‘The Amityville Horror’ remake relies too heavily on jump scares and lacks the creeping dread of the original, offering little new to the haunted house genre.
• IMDb: “The remake delivers decent scares and a creepy atmosphere, though it often relies on clichés. Ryan Reynolds stands out with a performance showing his acting range, however, this version doesn’t quite capture the lasting impact of the original.
• Bloody Disgusting: “A serviceable if uninspired remake. It offers some effective scares and a modernized take on the story, but ultimately lacks the depth and originality to stand out from other haunted house films. Watchable but not memorable.

Audience Reactions

Ryan Reynolds’ performance as George Lutz impressed many viewers.: Most people agree the movie has a few good jump scares but lacks the depth of the original.

The creepy atmosphere and setting created an unsettling mood.: Many found the special effects and modern horror elements to be overused and detracting.

Overall Consensus: A decent horror remake with some effective scares, but ultimately fails to capture the suspense and lasting impact of the original, relying too much on clichés.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Ryan Reynolds chose to remain distant from the child actors to better embody George Lutz’s growing detachment and eventual hostility.”
• “The film was shot on location in Salem, Wisconsin, using a house that closely resembled the infamous Amityville house.”
• “The production team aimed for a more visceral and fast-paced horror experience compared to the original 1979 film, utilizing modern filmmaking techniques.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Amityville Horror?

The Amityville Horror (2005) is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your preferred streaming service for availability as it may vary by region. Physical copies (DVD/Blu-ray) are also available for purchase online and in retail stores.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Amityville Horror, you might like these similar films:

• The Conjuring (2013): Deals with paranormal investigation and a family terrorized by a malevolent entity in their new home.
• The Shining (1980): Features a descent into madness and a family isolated and terrorized by supernatural forces in a confined location.
• Poltergeist (1982): Focuses on a family haunted by malevolent spirits in their home, with the youngest daughter being the focal point.
• The Babadook (2014): Explores the themes of grief, psychological terror, and a mother and child battling a supernatural entity.

🛒 The Amityville Horror Related Products

• The Amityville Horror (1979) [Blu-ray]: Experience the original haunting that started it all, now in high definition. A must-have for fans of classic horror.
• Amityville Horror House Model Kit: A detailed model kit of the iconic Amityville house. Build and display this infamous landmark in your horror collection.
• Amityville Horror T-Shirt: Show your love for the Amityville legend with this stylish t-shirt featuring the iconic house. Available in various sizes.
• Ghost Hunting Kit: Everything you need to start your own paranormal investigations. Includes EMF reader, EVP recorder, and guide.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Amityville Horror features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Title” – performed by Steve Jablonsky
• “The Axe” – performed by Steve Jablonsky
• “Basement” – performed by Steve Jablonsky

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The True Story Behind “The Amityville Horror”

Ever wonder what really happened in the infamous Amityville house? This video dives into the chilling true story and its haunting connection to the movie you love.

The Amityville Horror – What’s the Difference?

From the book to the big screen, how does “The Amityville Horror” stack up? This video takes you on a journey through the different versions of this haunting tale.

Scary History of the Amityville Horror Killer

Beyond the movie, delve into the chilling true story of the Amityville murders. This video takes you inside the mind of the real killer and reveals the horrors that unfolded in that infamous house.

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