The Amityville Horror (2005): A Familiar Yet Engaging Tale
The 2005 remake of “The Amityville Horror” treads a path somewhere between “Boogeyman” (2005) and “Exorcist: The Beginning” (2004). This solid, low-budget film isn’t essential viewing, but it’s unlikely to disappoint. Its main draw is the claim that it’s “based on true events,” promising a blend of horror, mystery, and dark secrets rooted in reality.
Interestingly, this horror film from the creators of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (2003) bears little resemblance to its predecessor. It’s surprisingly restrained with gore, save for a single scene. Thankfully, there’s no animal cruelty involved, a welcome change. The film is a distinctly American horror experience, free from the overused tropes of Japanese horror (though the core concept shares similarities with “The Grudge” (2004), the Amityville case predates it). It challenges a fundamental American value: “home sweet home.”
The Real-Life Horror
In 1974, in the town of Amityville, police discovered six bodies in a house. Ronald DeFeo Jr. claimed he was awakened by “voices” and murdered his parents and four siblings. Remarkably, neighbors reported hearing no gunshots. A year later, the Lutz family moved into the same house. George and Kathy Lutz, along with her three children from a previous marriage, lived there for only 28 days before fleeing, leaving all their belongings behind. This event inspired a bestselling book, a cult classic film from the 70s, and several sequels. The truth behind the events remains a mystery.
The Filmmakers’ Approach
The Director
Director Andrew Douglas, a veteran who began his career in 1974, makes his feature film debut with “The Amityville Horror.” After decades in advertising photography and directing commercials, Douglas brings a sense of unvarnished reality to the film. The use of natural lighting, grainy visuals, and authentic details enhance the horror when it unfolds.
The Cast
The film features lesser-known but dedicated actors. Ryan Reynolds (George Lutz) and Melissa George (Kathy Lutz) deliver grounded performances, portraying characters with a past, a future, and a present crisis. They avoid the typical horror movie clichés, instead embodying people caught in an extraordinary situation.
Themes and Shortcomings
The film focuses on the Lutz family’s experience in the Amityville house, featuring familiar horror elements like ghosts, strange noises, a creepy basement, and a dark secret from the 17th century. However, the film’s realism leads not to jump scares, but to a relatable theme: the transformation of a seemingly normal person into something monstrous. The film subtly explores how a good person can descend into darkness, whether influenced by supernatural forces or personal demons, and the toll it takes on their family.
However, the film suffers from a lack of explanation. Why would the Lutzes buy a house with such a dark history, especially when they knew about the murders? The film also glosses over the relationship between Kathy, a widow with three children, and George, a younger man. Furthermore, the house’s age is inconsistent with the narrative, as the structure appears much younger than the claimed 17th-century origins. The sudden appearance of a 300-year-old ghost in 1974 also raises questions. Where was it during the previous century?
Authenticity and Accuracy
Despite its strengths, the film’s low budget limits its ability to accurately recreate the 1970s. The fashion, manners, and overall atmosphere of the era are not fully realized. This lack of attention to detail leads to noticeable inaccuracies, such as the cliché of the ghostly girl disappearing under the floorboards.
A more thorough reconstruction of the era could have allowed the film to explore deeper themes and offer more compelling theories about what truly happened in the house on Ocean Avenue in the 1970s. As it stands, the mystery remains unsolved.