It is a performances centric movie

it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

"The Amityville Horror" film claims to be based upon real events about supposed paranormal activities at a particular house where a family was terrorised. However, all this has been disputed since the release of the film. The plot is fairly good on the whole and includes some moments of atmosphere and suspense. One highlight, is when the babysitter is locked in the large cupboard and the child in her care just gazes at the locked door, ignoring the cries for help. We bear witness to the family in question as their idea of their dream home gradually becomes a nightmare. James Brolin and Margot Kidder don't employ much in the way of subtlety once their characters begin to feel the strain of living in a haunted house. For me, the acting honours go to Rod Steiger as a local priest who seems much in tune with the paranormal activity at the house. He conveys much in the way of Fear and torment. An arresting performance. Murray Hamilton and John Larch are wasted in their one scene appearance. The inevitable climax is one that tries to pull out all the stops but I was slightly disappointed with it. It wasn't dramatically effective enough for my liking. One considerable weakness in the plot, is that Rod Steiger didn't have a proper scene with either of the leads, which he should have done in order to provide some spiritual comfort. In addition, he should have been included for the climax. The direction is ok but nothing special and the pace tends to be rather leaden. The film has dated without question and I have seen far better haunted house movies. Worth seeing if only the once.

This movie shaped the horror genre in ways words can't explain. With this film in particular you are gifted with some excellent acting and a terrific storyline. THE AMITYVILLE HORROR went on to create a franchise for itself with several renditions of the gruesome houses plagued horror. Most films under this genre highlight a masterful balance of paranoia with good acting. Like with most haunted house films the build up of tension to the climax is a short journey that normally takes place at the last 15-20 minutes of the film. However, during this time you get a scare of a lifetime and creeps that you've never felt before.www.chorror.com

The fly scene with the priest will never get old. Then never resolves to anything substantial. We find something is disturbing the priest enough that he pukes outside by his car. Everything seems find for George and the gang. They had to have been drinking TAB soda as they were fixing up the place. Haven't seen that soda in a while. Love how Stuart Rosenberg adds in the old stuff, too. Them old school wall pencil sharpeners in the kitchen and, rotary phone. There is something about this place that George likes since, he buys one of the old lamps that broke during the murder that took place there. The dialogue for starters in this film is family-like. And Kathy and George are a trip. George gets cold and says. "This house is supposed to be well- insulated." Where did this line come from? Why inform us of this now and not when the realtor was present. Skipping ahead to the love scene, it could be better. I like how he looks at her and says, "Kathy, I love you." This also builds feeling in both characters and we see them as humans and we feel for them. Great job! Rosenberg. This film carries us through a destructive tide of disorder at its best. That family dinner table fight. That car argument with someone. I think we have all been there and can relate. Rosenberg knows this and does a great job of bringing this out during the babysitter closet scene. The real incident of this took place in New York, resident address of 112 Ocean Avenue. This did not take place in Detroit. This kind of ruins the authenticity factor. Yep, that went right out the door. And, there was no car being possessed in the original story. The use of atmosphere makes this film enjoyable. Some houses are just creepy and this is one of them. Those old houses with those stairway basements are just nasty! Kathy would be much better off with Father Bolen. This film suggests that. That we never really see the good until it's too late and we are stuck in marriage. A lot of this film sucks you into nothing happening scenes that could very well be omitted. Things start to pick up towards the end of the film and Rosenberg I think is at his best. Lot of unnecessary effects that steal the suspense. I would have loved the run through action in this film a lot better without the musical score. In a film like this you want to hear the screams, be involved in the tension build up of what's going on with the characters, and not detached from them by this music. The main theme in the credit roll would have been better if Rosenberg utilized it during George's walkarounds of the boathouse.

I'm a sucker for a good old-fashioned haunted house movie and THE AMITYVILLE HORROR is one of those all right – with the added frisson of being (supposedly) based on a true story! It's a film made at the tail-end of the 1970s replete with that fine '70s atmosphere. And atmosphere is what this film is all about; it creates a truly sinister look and feel as it depicts what happens to the innocent Lutz family after they move into a house that was the site of a previous massacre. From the title cards telling us the days of the week (building up a fine sense of foreboding) to the constant weird things going on, this film is predictable and entertainingly so. Swarms of bluebottles appearing out of nowhere, a sinister hidden room in the basement, a priest haunted by a sinister spirit, a weird pig-creature in the window, blood pouring down the walls, a crucifix turning upside down, a guy getting possessed by a killer spirit and more besides…what's not to love here? Okay, so the film has some rough edges. For the most part, though, it's surprisingly undated, especially as the special effects are kept simple and down to earth. The cast is also decent: I don't like Margot Kidder, but she gives a suitably scared turn here, although Christian Bale look-alike James Brolin has the stand-out turn as the guy becoming increasingly deranged. Rod Steiger is good value, as always, as the priest enduring a run of extremely bad luck.I first saw this film a good decade ago and found it creepy and powerful and seeing it now in the modern age I find it just as creepy, with the demonic voice shouting 'get out!' still the scary highlight. Up there with THE ENTITY and POLTERGEIST as the best this genre has to offer. This is also one of the rare instances in which the remake (released in 2005) manages to be as good, if not better, as the original.