Haunted houses turn up in movies every so often and I have enjoyed some of those movies.  I just watched The Amityville Horror (1979), a movie about a haunted house that claims to be based on a true story, for the first time in years.

Recently married George and Kathy Lutz decide to buy a house in Amityville.  The house in underpriced because the year before, a young man killed six members of his family.  George and Kathy decide that isn't an issue and they move in with Kathy's three children.  Almost immediately, strange things start happening in the house.  As the days pass, the things happening start to escalate.

The Amityville Horror (1979) is based on the book of the same name by Jay Anson.  I have never read the book, so I don't know what changes were made for the movie.  The book and movie tell the story of the Lutz family and their experiences in the house they bought in Amityville.  The Lutz family only stayed in the house for twenty-eight days before leaving one night never to return.  Over the years, there have been doubts raised about what exactly did happen in the house.

Time is taken at the beginning of The Amityville Horror (1979) to show George and Kathy when they first look at the house.  There isn't a lot of their discussion about it shared, but it is clear that they like it and aren't concerned about the history of the house.  They quickly move in and odd things start happening right away, though the family isn't aware of a few of them at that point.  The movie starts indicating the day of the week it is, and how many days the family have been in the house.  Not every day that the family spends in the house is shared during the movie.  Some of the scenes do move very slowly, which does make the pace drag at times.  I wasn't really bored by what was happening, but I did think that the pace was too slow in some scenes.  The movie is focused on what happens in the house after the family moves in and I didn't think the plot was complicated.  The things happening are interesting.  

When The Amityville Horror (1979) begins, things seem innocent enough at first with George and Kathy deciding to get the house.  Things quickly turn more sinister once they move in and the bizarre things start happening.  A priest, Father Delaney, stops by to bless the house while the family is outside.  He goes in the house and has an experience the family knows nothing about.  When he and Kathy try to talk on the phone later, there is interference that prevents them from hearing each other.  George starts to wake up every night at the time of the previous murders, and as the days pass, he starts acting really strange.  There are cold spots in the house and they hear strange noises.  Kathy's daughter Amy starts talking to an invisible friend.  There is a lot of odd stuff going on in and around the house and that does help to keep things more interesting.

I think that The Amityville Horror (1979) has a creepy atmosphere throughout most of the movie.  Just the look of one side of the house from the outside - the view that was used for all the advertising for the movie - really creeps me out.  I think part of it is the upper windows since they are shaped different.  The score for the movie includes some very creepy sounding music, even during some scenes that seem normal at first.  That music really creeps me out, especially when the one view of the house is shown.  There are a few scary moments in the movie, include a few things that I think were included just to make the audience jump.  There is a decent amount of suspense to what is happening and there is a feeling a tension to most of the movie even when something relatively normal is being shown.  Most of what happens is more tame when compared to other scary movies.  Violence only turns up in a few scenes that isn't that graphic or gory.  The movie is rated R and it isn't one that children should see.

George and Kathy haven't been married for that long when The Amityville Horror (1979) begins.  She has three children and they are all still adjusting to their new family when they move into the house.  George and Kathy are shown to be affectionate with each other at times, though that isn't happening as much as the movie progresses and George starts acting different.  There is one scene fairly early in the movie that has the couple being intimate without showing very much.  Kathy does show off a lot of skin without actually being naked.  The way the scene is shot, not much can be seen, but it is clear that they are having sex.  A bit later in the movie, another scene is set after they tried to have sex.  Evidently the viewers are supposed to believe that the haunting or whatever is going on makes George impotent because he is not able to perform at that time.

George and Kathy and a fairly newly married couple.  They both seem nice enough when they move into the house.  Kathy is just shown doing things around the house, so it doesn't seem like she had a paying job.  She is a loving mother and trying to make her new family work.  Margot Kidder does fine with the part, though it is a bit odd for me to see her in a role other than Lois Lane.  Kathy's children Amy, Greg, and Matt are around in scenes without them really doing that much.  Amy has a bit more to do because of her invisible friend and how that ties in to what is going on.  The child actors do fine with the part.

George is doing his best to make his new family work.  He has a business with a friend and based on some things said, he is stressed about some financial issues.  The longer they are in the house, the more he starts to change, acting upset over little things.  James Brolin does well with the part. With his beard and the longer hair he had, he did start looking more wild at time.  That, along with the bloodshot eyes, really make him look scary in some scenes.  Father Delaney is the priest who attempts to bless the house.  He is convinced that there is something going on with the house even though no one believes him.  Rod Steiger does fine with the part.  Some other characters briefly turn up in some scenes without them being that important to what is going on.

Main Cast

James Brolin - George Lutz
Margot Kidder - Kathy Lutz
K.C. Martel - Greg
Meeno Peluce - Matt
Natasha Ryan - Amy
Rod Steiger - Father Delaney

Stuart Rosenberg - Director

DVD Information

I have seen a few different DVD versions of The Amityville Horror (1979).  I recently picked up a version that came with the 2005 remake for only five dollars.  The back of the case says that there are extras for the movie, but there is no option on the DVD menu for extras.

The Amityville Horror (1979) does have a slower pace, but the movie is still entertaining and worth watching.  I do find it interesting that it is based on true events even though doubts have been raised over the years as to what really happened.  

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD