The Amityville Horror

Review by Clint Morris

It might be true, it might not be true - George Lutz has had more sceptics than the Hume's seen road kill.

But one thing's for sure, fact and fiction both definitely have a love affair with blood and boo, especially when retelling the tale of the infamous Amityville Horror.

In the summer of 1975, George and Kathy Lutz, along with their two kids, bought a house in upstate New York that they were informed was once the scene of a pretty vicious murder that saw a young man taking a shot-gun to every member of his family.

A great house is a great house though, and as long as the house no longer bared chalk marks, the Lutz's were snapping it up.

However, not even a thorough blessing from a priest could help the new owners of the Ocean Avenue abode, and in the case of the Lutz's, life was about to take a horrifying, unforgettable turn. Cue the ghosts, hellish hallucinations, and demonic possession.

There have been more stabs at the "Amityville Horror" story than there's been progress into finding Osama Bin Laden, but this one's as flashy as a centrefold shoot.

Its makeup is in the environs of Lutz's report, but the guts of the flashy retool is as fluffed as a set of fresh hotel pillows.

If it wasn't such a feebly-paced, fairly imitative piece, one would probably thank the filmmakers for sprucing proceedings up and taking such liberties, but it's not - it's as average as an unbuttered cheese sandwich.

In short, it's a start, an ending, and a legion of quick cuts, loud music, corn syrup and fictional padding.

Instead of doing justice to the alleged true-story, or even the book or previous films, it does more to preserve the memory of Kubrick's The Shining.

For instance, Ryan Reynolds, as good as he is, doesn't seem to have a lot to do as Lutz, but merely snarl, scream and channel Nicholson. And though she's as pretty as a picture, Melissa George won't be remembered for her work here either. Shelley Duvall has obviously had a word in her ear too.

There's been a real resurgence in horror lately, and The Amityville Horror had a major opportunity to tag itself on the end of the successful train of recent gems. Instead, it falls somewhere between a substandard exercise in missed opportunities and an easily endurable spook-show that will entertain for its duration, but won't chillingly scold your subconsciousness.

Which, if told properly, certainly could have.

2.5 out of 5

The Amityville Horror
Australian release: Thursday 14th of April, 2005
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Melissa George, Philip Baker Hall, Jesse James, Jimmy Bennet, Rachel Nichols.
Director: Andrew Douglas.
Website: Click here.

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