The Amityville Horror (2005)

Director:

Andrew Douglas

Writers (WGA):

Scott Kosar (screenplay)
Jay Anson (novel)

Release Date:

15 April 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Based on the true story.

Plot:

A family is terrorized by demonic forces after moving into a home that was the site of a grisly mass-murder.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Priest | Ghost | Haunted House | Nightmare

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Ryan Reynolds	...	George Lutz
Melissa George	...	Kathy Lutz
Jesse James	...	Billy Lutz
Jimmy Bennett	...	Michael Lutz
Chloe Moretz	...	Chelsea Lutz (as Chloë Grace Moretz)
Rachel Nichols	...	Lisa
Philip Baker Hall	...	Father Callaway
Isabel Conner	...	Jodie Defeo
Brendan Donaldson	...	Ronald Defeo
Annabel Armour	...	Realtor
Rich Komenich	...	Chief of Police
David Gee	...	ER Doctor
Danny McCarthy	...	Officer Greguski
Nancy Lollar	...	Librarian
José Taitano	...	Stitch

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, disturbing images, language, brief sexuality and drug use. (edited for re-rating)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Brazil:16 | Peru:14 | Argentina:16 | Taiwan:R-12 | Sweden:15 | Netherlands:16 | Malaysia:18PL | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:15 | Australia:MA | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Germany:16 | Ireland:15A | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:NC-16 (cut) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #41520) | New Zealand:R16 | Finland:K-15 | Hong Kong:IIB | Norway:15

Filming Locations:

1500 Busch Pky., Buffalo Grove, Illinois, USA

Company:

Dimension Films

Trivia:

In the original script, the poster on Billy's bedroom wall during the babysitter scene was of a different band. However, when the crew realized how long of a tongue actress Rachel Nichols (who played the babysitter) had, they decided to change it to a poster of the rock band Kiss, because of band member Gene Simmons' very long tongue.

Goofs:

Continuity: When George is chopping logs and Billy has to hold them, Billy sets up a second log without bark around it. In the next shot when George splits it, it has bark around it.

Quotes:

[first lines]
The House: Catch them! Kill them!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Down to the Bone: Anatomy of a Prequel (2007) (V)

Better than the Original?

When it comes to making a film in Hollywood these days it would appear that they are running out of original material. Any film that is over 10 years old has the chance of being remade but the real question is which will be better. This is a film that breaks the normal mold of being awful compared to its predecessor. I actually really enjoyed this remake and found myself more scared in this one than the original. Was this film Better? No. But it holds its own on its own merits. Having read the book, this one is a little more true to the story and for that I applaud the film makers. The film was very good and I rate it in my Horror Hall of Fame.

In this particular version of the film it could be said that it was more accurate to the original book. And for those who consider this to be a hoax there has never been any proof either way. It is quite interesting to hear people who think they are authorities on the matter. Most people probably have not even read the book. There have been more than one book written about what happened in the house and the house the stood on the same location prior to the incident with the Lutz family. This film represents more than just the book the Amityville Horror. It takes its cues from the different novels that have been written about the event and the location.

This movie is very scary, and has lots of good jumps in it. The director of the film was obviously very interested in not making a film that came across as a remake but one that could stand on its own merits and not those of its previous incarnation. When I go to a film I judge it by several different criteria since I used to be a movie critic for a reputable newspaper. These criteria are the following. 1. How did the movie effect the audience in general? 2. Storyline cohesion. 3. Special Effects (ie. did they detract from the movie, overpower the movie, or just assist in the telling of the movie) 4. Can it stand on its own if its a Prequel, Sequel or Remake. 5. When I left the movie did I feel like I had been part of it (ie Suspension of Disbelief)

When I look at the Amityville Horror it scored highly in all of these categories, especially the last which in my opinion is the most important of the 5. When you walk out from a film and you were ready to leave because the movie was good enough to make you feel as if you were part of it, it was just a good movie. Most people have preconceived ideas about what a movie should be like when they go into it. I on the other hand go in as blank slate as possible so I can take the movie for its own worth and nothing else. It is a suggestion that I would give to all movie goers, don't go in prejudging a film because of the movies prequels, or predecessors. This movie is a prime example of trying to compare it to the original. The two movies were very different takes on the story and should be viewed as such.