The Amityville Horror is a 1979 American supernatural horror film based on Jay Anson's book of the same name. Directed by Stuart Rosenberg, it features James Brolin and Margot Kidder. The film follows a young couple who purchase a home haunted by combative supernatural forces. Documented paranormal experiences of the Lutz family who briefly resided in the Amityville, New York home where Ronald DeFeo Jr. committed the mass murder of his family in 1974. The producers intended to shoot the film in the actual DeFeo residence, but its owners denied them permission. It is the first entry in the long-running Amityville Horror film series, and was remade in 2005.
Plot[]
Cast[]
- James Brolin as George Lutz
- Margot Kidder as Kathleen "Kathy" Lutz
- Rod Steiger as Father Delaney
- Don Stroud as Father Bolen
- Murray Hamilton as Father Ryan
- John Larch as Father Nuncio
- Natasha Ryan as Amy
- K. C. Martel as Greg
- Meeno Peluce as Matt
- Michael Sacks as Jeff
- Helen Shaver as Carolyn
- Amy Wright as Jackie the babysitter
- Val Avery as Sgt. Gionfriddo
- Elsa Raven as Mrs. Townsend
- Irene Dailey as Aunt Helena
- Marc Vahanian as Jimmy
- Ellen Saland as Jimmy's wife
- Eddie Barth as Agucci
- James Tolkan as Coroner
Reception[]
Critical response[]
Though a commercial success, the film received generally negative reviews from critics such as Leonard Maltin and Roger Ebert, the latter describing it as "dreary and terminally depressing". Based on 29 reviews, the film has a 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes with the consensus: "Dull and disappointing, the best that can be said for The Amityville Horror is that it set a low bar for its many sequels and remakes. "The film resulted in several lawsuits.