The Amityville Horror [Blu-ray] + DVD ComboFrom Michael Bay, the producer of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, comes the true story of Amityville. In November 1974, a family of six was brutally murdered. Now, a year later, an unsuspecting young couple, George (Ryan Reynolds, Blade: Trinity, The In-Laws) and Kathy Lutz (Melissa George, TV’s Alias), and their children move into the house that was the site of the horrific event and is now haunted by a murderous presence. What follows is 28 days of unimaginable terror. With demonic visions of the dead and relentless screams of terror, this is the haunted house story that isn’t just a movie – it’s real. Most horror movies establish an atmosphere of normalcy, which they gradually rupture with spooky or creepy or stomach-churning images. The Amityville Horror–a remake of the 1979 movie about a possessed house that torments the family that moves into it–tosses normalcy out the window in the first five minutes, unleashing a nonstop barrage of unsettling camera angles, decaying wood and stained wallpaper, half-glimpsed shadows in motion, fast edits of grotesque ghosts, and dozens of other horror-movie devices. Whether you like the movie will depend on whether you like feeling slightly nauseated and cut off from any semblance of reality–for many people, that’s why they go to horror movies. Others won’t be able to suspend disbelief that anyone but an actor would spend the time necessary to develop Ryan Reynold’s insanely buff physique, prominently displayed as he runs around wearing nothing but a pair of loose-fitting pajama bottoms. In addition to Reynolds (Van Wilder, Blade: Trinity), the movie also features Philip Baker Hall (Magnolia) and Melissa George (Down With Love). –Bret Fetzer 
Rating:  List Price: $ 24.99 Price: $ 9.00 |
(out of 241 reviews)
Review by Nicholas Carroll for The Amityville Horror [Blu-ray] + DVD Combo
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In 2002, I happened to see the original Amityville house on Long Island (which was renovated to replace the creepy looking windows). That got me interested in the story and I finally watched the original horror film, which was so bland and lacking in suspense that I don’t know why previews of that movie gave me nightmares as a child.
With today’s film technology, I looked forward to seeing this new version. Signs were not good when the film’s distributors refused to allow film critics to pre-screen the movie for the Friday write-ups. Roger Ebert created his “finger wave” category for the distributor’s cowardice in facing the film critics.
While this film is a big improvement on the 1979 film, it still has a lot of cheap shots and comes across as manipulative. What it lacks in horror, they make up for it by spiking the scary music and quick jumps to startle the audience. Although based on a true story (whether it happened or was an elaborate hoax continues to be debated), so many instances strained credibility…such as the daughter walking dangerously on the roof. Yeah, right.
The scene I most like in this film, however, deals with the babysitter, as she adds much humor to the story. Because of her and having actor Ryan Reynolds walk around shirtless, showing off his well-sculpted body, its obvious that the makers of the film settled for a sexed up version for modern audiences to make up for the lack of suspense and true drama/horror. That also strains credibility, but its only a movie…one that’s hard to take seriously from the get-go.
The truly horrifying scene takes audiences into the basement to discover the house’s secret past that explains the haunting. It is the most graphic part of the film and the scariest. If this film had more of that, instead of trying to be a cheap imitation of “The Sixth Sense” (which is what I thought of everytime that ghost girl popped up unexpectedly for no other reason than to startle the audience), I would give it another star. As is, its an okay film for a few laughs and an improvement upon the original.
Review by Nathan Christian for The Amityville Horror [Blu-ray] + DVD Combo
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This movie made me cringe in several places. I couldn’t take it when the little girl was balancing herself on the top of the roof. The camera angles really got me. And when George made the kid hold the log wile he swung the axe to chop it was a reeal nail biter.
If you over analize it, you’ll be disappointed. But if you approach this fast moving film as a joyride through terror…hop on!
At least rent it if you don’t buy it.
Review by N. Williams for The Amityville Horror [Blu-ray] + DVD Combo
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Anyone who has seen this movie and thinks it is accurate to the true events that the Lutz family claimed happened needs to do a little research. I am of the mind that the Lutz family moved into that house with the intention of profiting from the fact they moved into a “murder house” and could claim ghostly encounters, and yes they profited big time.
Like Texas Chainsaw the producers of this film are only concerned with trying to make you think what they are telling you is the “true story”. In this case the “true story” isnt even accurate to the most likey made up story that the Lutz family wrote about in their book.
Funny to that everyone how has lived in that house since the Lutz family fled has never claimed to have any ghostly encounters. And yet in the special features of this film they claim this is the most haunted house in America, it may be the most famous but we can thank Hollywood fot that, not ghost encounters. Lets not forget that the facts behind this story involve an entire family being brutally murdered and maybe we should question whether people should profit off that, including the actual Lutz family. I believe ghosts may exist but I think the Amityville Horror is not a ghost story, its a profit maker and has been since the Lutz family first published their so called true story.
Not that I care much but Isnt it odd that George Lutz requested to be a consultant to the new film but the producers and screen writer wanted nothing to do with him. read this article:http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/entertainment/40232004.htm
Review by chicoer2003 for The Amityville Horror [Blu-ray] + DVD Combo
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I dont want to say it was better than the first, because that was 26 years ago. It’s different: more gory, more frighting (using the quick pans and tense music) For a movie no adays it was up there on the scare factor. Reynolds is good, and is scary in the model of Nicholson in The Shining. A better remake in a time when they’re bad.
Review by Yeater166 for The Amityville Horror [Blu-ray] + DVD Combo
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If you were a fan of the original Amityville Horror you ought to love this remake.Ryan Reynolds was very good in this thriller.This movie was full of jumps and suprises!!
SEE AMITYVILLE HORROR!!
GOOD MOVIE!!SCARIER and better than the original….