The Amityville Horror: A Haunted House Movie To Remember!

I've seen many ghost movies that are classics. "Poltergeist" was scary as hell. "The Haunting" was a perfect exercise in psychological horror. "Burnt Offerings" knew how to build up an audience. And, of course, there's "The Amityville Horror," which ranks in my book as a wonderful spookfest.

On a cold, wet night in 1974, Ronald "Butch" DeFeo Jr. shot his family to death, face down, in their beds. The location for such a gruesome crime took place in a Dutch Colonial house on 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, Long Island. During his trial, DeFeo testified that he did commit the murders, but he had heard voices in the house telling him to do it. A year later, George and Kathy Lutz, a non-superstitious couple, decided to buy the house on 112 Ocean Avenue. A month later, they moved in with their three children. But after 28 days of non-stop horrific occurrences, the Lutz family could stand no more. Therefore, on the final night, George, Kathy and their children fled for dear life and never returned to their home.

"The Amityville Horror" has all the right ingredients for a good ghost story including a well-chosen cast, a good script, a menacing score and loads of creepiness. The events in the home go from strange to eerie to absolutely shocking.

The film has very good performances by James Brolin and Margot Kidder as George and Kathy. Brolin's prediction of George is correct, and his descent into madness is believable. Margot Kidder is also very good as Kathy, as well as Rob Steiger who pours his heart and soul into this performance.

Although it is comparable to Jerry Goldsmith's music for "Poltergeist," Lalo Schifrin's Academy Award-nominated score is downright moody and frightening.

Everyone knows the story of the infamous house in Amityville. It still exists to this day. But is it haunted? Many people aren't sure. And others believe flat-out that the haunting was a hoax. But I truthfully think the house is haunted. Most of us will never know the facts of what happened at 112 Ocean Avenue. But what we do know is that the film adaptation of "The Amityville Horror" is an accurate and creepy portrayal of a family dream gone horribly wrong. And even though it gets close to the edge of campiness, it never goes over-the-top and remains a must in every avid horror fan's collection..