"Amityville Horror" character George Lutz made a mistake when he said "Houses don't kill people, people kill people." In this case, it's the other way around.
After remaking "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," producer Michael Ray teamed up with director Andrew Douglas to produce another bone-chiller; "The Amityville Horror."
Based on a true account by author Jay Anson, the original 1979 film "Amityville Horror" became an instant classic. In the remake, Douglas brings more imagination to an already questionable story.
In the opening scene of the movie, Ray uses the same scenario as he did for "Texas Chainsaw," in which it seems we are watching an old film on how the first incident happened. In "The Amityville Horror" we are taken back to Nov. 14, 1974 in Long Island, N.Y., when the young Ronald Defeo admits to the police he heard voices in the house telling him to murder all six of his family members as they slept. This breath-taking scene lets audiences know they are in for a scare.
One year later, the Lutz family is looking to start a new life and their first step is finding a new home and Amityville appears to be in their price range. George, played by Ryan Reynolds, ("School of Life," "Blade Trinity") is married to Kathy Lutz, played by Melissa George. Kathy has three kids from her previous marriage.
The Lutz family movies into the big, white dream house - but the perfect house might not be so perfect after all.
Reynolds delivers a stunning performance and might even frighten audiences with his acting skills. He has that evil look in his eyes that Jack Nicholson had in the "The Shining." And even the priest who comes to visit can't save them from the evil spirits lurking in the house.
During a period of 28 days we learn the history of the house, which Douglas does a superb job of telling by going back into the past and letting the audience know the people behind the voices.
This movie is an upside-down roller coaster that will have you jumping out of your seat. "The Amityville Horror" is an unbelievable movie that is destined to stir up those horror juices. It's so scary you just might want to cover your eyes.
