The Amityville Horror DVD Review

"THE AMITYVILLE HORROR" reviews

DVD

THE AMITYVILLE HORROR

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2005-10-28 15:34:42

Provider

DVD Review

Hollywood's so keen on remakes right now, particularly horror films, that you can probably expect to see updated versions of everything from The Omen to Scary Movie over the next few years.

Amityville, however, is one of those mythical 'based on real events' tales that's always worth revisiting. The story goes that on November 14 1974, police received a frantic phone call that led them to a nightmarish crime scene at the Defeo residence in Amityville, Long Island. An entire family had been slaughtered in their beds by Ronald Defeo, who claimed "voices" in the house drove him to commit the grisly murders. A year later, George (Ryan Reynolds) and Kathy Lutz (Melissa George, yes, she of Home And Away fame) and their three kids move into what they think will be their dream home. What follows are 28 days of unadulterated horror.

While the creepy events of Jay Anson's book remain mostly intact, this version of Amityville relies more on fiction than fact. Unlike the original movie's family, the updated Lutz's are young, hip and beautiful for 21st Century Hollywood tastes (including Melissa George, aka Angel from Home and Away). The amount of gore and inevitable edge of the seat shocks come much thicker and faster than the original and, without wishing to spoil too much, the infamous 'red room' differs somewhat.

Screenwriter Scott Kosar has taken a few liberties, and totally transformed the final act with mixed results. But as Hollywood horrors go, this one might actually have you hiding behind the sofa from time to time.

DVD extras include Making Of Featurette, Deleted Scenes, Commentary With Ryan Reynolds And Producers, Supernatural Homicide Scene Deconstruction, Photo Gallery and Multi Angel On Set Peeks.