Second Sight, out now

‘For God’s sake, get out!’

There’s not much really you can say about a horror film that’s already earned its place in history, becoming one of the most successful independent movies at the time of its release – and of course based on the hugely successful book of the same name. As the PR reminds us, it spawned numerous sequels, inspired so many haunted house flicks (is still doing so today – nobody could look at the Conjuring films and deny its influence), and was even the subject of a top 20 single from Lovebug Starski. So, going into a re-watch of this one, you’re well aware you’re in the presence of a classic. The question is, has the film held up?

Newlyweds George and Kathy Lutz (James Brolin and erstwhile Lois Lane, Margot Kidder) buy a house that was unfortunately the scene of a mass murder the year before. But, as George reminds Kathy, ‘Houses don’t have memories’. Cue priest Father Delaney (In the Heat of the Night’s Rod Steiger) hearing voices and getting covered in flies when he arrives to bless the house, George waking up at 3:15 am every night (the time of the murder) and becoming a little too fond of his axe, and toilet problems the likes of which no plumber on earth would go near.

As Kathy’s kids start to become involved in the craziness (one particular scene stands out involving fingers and a window), she begins to investigate the origins of the place – even enlisting the help of psychic friend Carolyn (an early turn for Poltergeist: The Legacy’s Helen Shaver). But things are about to get a whole lot worse, as a giant pig with glowing eyes crops up and it’s discovered that the house might actually have a pathway to Hell in the cellar…

By today’s standard’s the original Amityville moves pretty slowly, teasing out the tension and especially George’s transformation into a nutcase (Brolin’s performance is, it has to be said, very convincing…little wonder he didn’t work for two years afterwards). Compare this to the 2005 Ryan Reynolds & Melissa George remake, which was much faster-paced and slicker – though somewhat more hollow and lacking in heart. However, there are still some genuinely creepy moments to be found here, which made it a blue-print for all those other supernatural movies to follow.

What makes this a truly essential purchase, though, are the extras. Not only do you get an hour and a half documentary – My Amityville Horror – which looks at the phenomenon from one of the real children’s perspective, Daniel Lutz (this was, after all based on true events), plus a 2004 featurette For God’s Sake, Get Out, there is also a host of new material created just for this steelbook. It’s worth the price alone for Brolin Thunder (that title!), in which the male star tells the story of reading the book and jumping when his trousers fell off the back of the bedroom door. But you also get brand new interviews with child star Meeno Peluce, who tells us about how the kids used to jump between levels of the house on set, screenwriter Sandor Stern (brought in to rewrite the first script – ‘I told them what was wrong with it…it wasn’t scary!’), and composer Lalo Schifrin, who reveals that a forbidden Catholic pause between notes was used in the score: the so-called Devil’s Music. All in all, a horror movie fan’s dream package.

Verdict: Altogether now, Amityville…House on the Hill!  10/10

Paul Kane

 

 

 

 

Second Sight, out 26 June,

‘For God’s sake, get out!’

There’s not much really you can say about a horror film that’s already earned its place in history, becoming one of the most successful independent movies at the time of its release – and of course based on the hugely successful book of the same name. As the PR reminds us, it spawned numerous sequels, inspired so many haunted house flicks (is still doing so today – nobody could look at the Conjuring films and deny its influence), and was even the subject of a top 20 single from Lovebug Starski. So, going into a re-watch of this one, you’re well aware you’re in the presence of a classic. The question is, has the film held up?

Newlyweds George and Kathy Lutz (James Brolin and erstwhile Lois Lane, Margot Kidder) buy a house that was unfortunately the scene of a mass murder the year before. But, as George reminds Kathy, ‘Houses don’t have memories’. Cue priest Father Delaney (In the Heat of the Night’s Rod Steiger) hearing voices and getting covered in flies when he arrives to bless the house, George waking up at 3:15 am every night (the time of the murder) and becoming a little too fond of his axe, and toilet problems the likes of which no plumber on earth would go near.

As Kathy’s kids start to become involved in the craziness (one particular scene stands out involving fingers and a window), she begins to investigate the origins of the place – even enlisting the help of psychic friend Carolyn (an early turn for Poltergeist: The Legacy’s Helen Shaver). But things are about to get a whole lot worse, as a giant pig with glowing eyes crops up and it’s discovered that the house might actually have a pathway to Hell in the cellar…

By today’s standard’s the original Amityville moves pretty slowly, teasing out the tension and especially George’s transformation into a nutcase (Brolin’s performance is, it has to be said, very convincing…little wonder he didn’t work for two years afterwards). Compare this to the 2005 Ryan Reynolds & Melissa George remake, which was much faster-paced and slicker – though somewhat more hollow and lacking in heart. However, there are still some genuinely creepy moments to be found here, which made it a blue-print for all those other supernatural movies to follow.

What makes this a truly essential purchase, though, are the extras. Not only do you get an hour and a half documentary – My Amityville Horror – which looks at the phenomenon from one of the real children’s perspective, Daniel Lutz (this was, after all based on true events), plus a 2004 featurette For God’s Sake, Get Out, there is also a host of new material created just for this steelbook. It’s worth the price alone for Brolin Thunder (that title!), in which the male star tells the story of reading the book and jumping when his trousers fell off the back of the bedroom door. But you also get brand new interviews with child star Meeno Peluce, who tells us about how the kids used to jump between levels of the house on set, screenwriter Sandor Stern (brought in to rewrite the first script – ‘I told them what was wrong with it…it wasn’t scary!’), and composer Lalo Schifrin, who reveals that a forbidden Catholic pause between notes was used in the score: the so-called Devil’s Music. All in all, a horror movie fan’s dream package.

Verdict: Altogether now, Amityville…House on the Hill!  10/10

Paul Kane