Surprisingly incoherent and boring

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Mom and dad get divorced. Mom finds a new hubby. Daniel starts having trouble with all the changes. Mom and new dad have leanings toward the supernatural, probably what brought them together. New dad has some financial issues that he hasn't disclosed. Soon after moving into the new home mom and dad come to the realization that they are in over their heads, need to get out of the predicament they have created for themselves. Hey, there were people killed in this house, I'll bet spooks could help us out of this predicament. They may have picked this particular house specifically because people were killed in it, their plans may have had deeper roots. We haven't been given enough info to know for sure. Dad sets up an already disturbed Daniel by feeding him ghost stories, Daniel finds them a great release for his unresolved anger. It's working out for everyone. Mom and dad start making some bucks off of the notoriety and ghosts have gotten them off the hot seat. Daniels anger builds and after a while he has started believing his own stuff. Bring in someone who wants to make a documentary, lets squeeze some more cash out of this if we can. Daniel picks up a few bucks by embarrassing himself in front of the camera and his inability to separate fact from fiction becomes known to the world. The siblings are tired of the fiasco and would probably like to get as far from this mess as possible. It's about disturbances, but not the supernatural kind. Actually a pretty sad affair.

My Amityville Horror (2012) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Daniel Lutz was the stepson of George Lutz who most will remember as the father who claimed that his home in Amityville was haunted, which led to a bestselling book as well as a hit film, which followed with countless sequels. This is without question the most famous haunted house in history but more recently most people believe it was all just a hoax. Speaking for the first time, Daniel certainly doesn't believe it was a hoax as he explains what exactly happened inside the house as well as the various other forms of abuse that he suffered through the hands of George. Those expecting this to prove the Amityville case will probably be disappointed. While it's true that the case is discussed in great detail, I think the real focus of the film is on the mental state of Daniel and the obvious abuse he got from his stepfather. Look, no one except for the Lutz's will ever know what really happened in that house but after seeing this film I think I'm pushed further into believing that nothing did. It's clear that Daniel is suffering from some very strong mental problems, which are either true or perhaps everything here was just a performance. Again, only he will know for certain. Hearing the various stories of abuse he took from his stepfather and hearing how he felt his mother left him is something that could haunt a person just as much as a ghost inside the house. There are times when his stories are quite chilling but how much you believe them is going to have a lot of impact. It's worth noting that a title card at the end says the other two children were originally going to take part in the documentary but backed out. Also interviewed are many of the original journalists who covered the case as well as Lorraine Warren who of course is red hot now thanks to THE CONJURING.

For the first time in thirty-five years, Daniel Lutz recounts his version of the infamous Amityville haunting that terrified his family in 1975...What this film does not do is solve the mystery of the Amityville house and whether or not it was haunted. So if you are already familiar with that and hoped for proof of ghosts or a debunking, this will not change your mind one way or the other. (Although, if like me you knew very little of the true story, this will fill in a lot of gaps.) This is not a film of the haunting, but rather the effects on the boy who lived in the house, Daniel Lutz, now around fifty years old. He believes the house was haunted and that he was possessed. Are we to believe him, or is he crazy or is his memory faulty from years of abuse from his stepfather? Different viewers will take away different things from this documentary. Some might go away saying that Lutz is sincere an therefore the haunting was real. Others will say he is completely off his rocker. This ambiguity actually shows how good of a documentary it is -- the film is not concerned with convincing you one way or the other, it just wants to show you the facts and let you decide for yourself.Some parts are a bit slow and repetitive, but the film as a whole is short enough that this can be overlooked. There is also a great cast of characters. Lutz is front and center, but we also meet up with investigative reporters and paranormal researchers who were at the house in 1975 who are reflecting on their experiences decades later. One woman, Lorraine Warren, who raises roosters and claims to have a piece of the cross that Jesus was crucified on is quite interesting (and again, how you interpret this scene will depend on your views of the paranormal and supernatural).The biggest disappointment is that Daniel Lutz's two siblings declined to be involved with the project. Although they were probably too young to have any coherent memories of the Amityville house, they could offer valuable insight into living with George Lutz, as well as give their impressions of Daniel's state of mind. A sequel documentary, perhaps?While not the most socially or politically important documentary to come out in recent years, it is a film that should be viewed by both paranormal enthusiasts and those who have appreciated the horror genre. One looks at the "Amityville Horror" film series differently when you know -- or think you know -- the true story.

This is what happens when a guy with a severe mental illness is given attention and a camera is shoved into his face.He just makes up stories that are based off watching the Amityville movies, his real experience of living in the house and the Jay Anson book. He revels in the fact that he is the boy from the movie, he even knows all about the remake, he loves the attention the case has brought and this is obvious.He will (and does) say anything that he thinks will get a response from the interviewer then it all leads to him being asked if he would take a lie detector, and he reacts as anyone who has been lying would, he flips out.If you have 88 minutes to listen to a guy make up fantastical stories then watch this otherwise avoid and watch the Margot Kidder film.