Myron Clemons
A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.
hellholehorror
Better than the first film but still forgettable. The acting and drama is pretty dull. There are some really good scary moments when things jump out at you but nothing lasting. There were some interesting ideas and violence. This film is just lacking compared to Poltergeist (1982) and other haunted house movies. It updated the original but still an outdated haunted house fable.
markhaazen
I am, as it were, a horror nut and I can thoroughly recommend this film. After seeing the previous Amityville Horrors I wasn't sure how this one would rate as the first one appeared to be true strictly based on the true story and therefore un-scary, and the others were stupidly unbelievable. This film tops them in shocking horror whilst trying to stick to a semi-realistic storyline. It also goes more into the reason why the house is as haunted as it seems. Without giving too much away this film has several very frightening bits which surpass many horrors of modern times. The lingering image of the little girl and the daemonic faces which haunt the family are a great touch. The ending is good but seems to leave you wondering what happens afterwards. This may not hold greatly to the true story but it is a fantastic supernatural thriller. A must see for any horror lovers.
Screen_Blitz
Yet another remake of a classic horror film has uprooted from the Hollywood assembly line, and like most remakes of this genre (or genre for that matter); it falls short of the freshness that made the original a cinematic hit. Based on the 1979 original that was inspired by the infamous true events of the 1974 murder of DeFeo family, the film boasts a re-imagining of the fateful events that took place following the notorious murder, but find itself plagued in a tedious wasteland of abortive scares and cheap thrills that never quite land, at least until the final fifteen minutes. In the end, it more than likely brings you the conclusion that the 1979 horror classic would have been better left alone. Directed by Andrew Douglas, the film follows George (played by Ryan Reynolds) and Kathy Lutz (played by Melissa George), a couple three children including the eldest Billy (played by Jesse James), the middle child Michael (played by Jimmy Bennett), and the youngest Chelsea (played by Chloe Grace Moretz). The New York family moves into an old house marked for sale, despite being warned the grisly murders of a family that took place the following year. While adjusting to the new home life, the family experiences some demonic forces that put their lives in danger, Chelsea begins communicating with Jodie, one of the murder victims, and George gradually descends into cruel, abusive demeanor. Before they know it, the family finds themselves plagued by the evil forces of the dead family.It is in my sad duty is say this movie fails to deliver what is expected, nor does it bring anything new to the table. While Ryan Reynolds manages to come up with an appropriately eerie performance, the fine actor feels a bit miscast as the husband and father who becomes robbed of his mental health. Considering the other roles of his career, you would expect the filmmakers would have went with a better casting choice. Though his performance doesn't quite flounder, it's not enough to save the movie from the underwhelming horror fare that defines it. During these 90 minutes, viewers are forced to spend the majority of the time through tiresome jump scares and images of ghostly figures we've seen more than enough times. And this occurs so many times through the film, it grows stale pretty quick. The ghost of Jodie the younger child begins communicating with is scary-looking, but does very little to add to the scare factor. The supposedly most scary element in the film centers on George Lutz's descent into hostility as he develops a more cruel and abusive attitude towards his wife and children, and for awhile his wife somehow manages to put up with his mean-spirited attitude. Literally, it's not until the final fifteen minutes when she finally responds his transformation. This all leads to a climatic axe chase that is quite tense and surprisingly scary, but feels awfully derivative to the final scene in Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining'. Other than this, the rest of the movie feels soullessly wasted.The Amityville Horror is just another addition to the collection of dull horror remakes Hollywood has provided, and makes for a shamefully forgettable experience. While it may succeed in the acting department, the overall scare factor remains shallow and little to be desired. For those who decide to watch this, don't expect anything impressive.
Python Hyena
The Amityville Horror (2005): Dir: Andrew Douglas / Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Melissa George, Phillip Baker Hall, Jesse James, Chloe Grace Moretz: Remake of the 1979 horror classic about tragedy or event. Ryan Reynolds and Melissa George move into a huge house where a family was murdered. Premise is rushed so to move the family in and send them through a series of gruesome encounters where they question their sanity. It contains none of the life like reality of the original and director Andrew Douglas proves to be interested in nothing more than the technical elements. Visually the film is stunning with its horrific images but screenplay and acting are pitiful. Reynolds goes through a quick personality change as voices tell him to "kill them!" Too bad the voice didn't tell him to walk off set. George fares little better as his wife. Phillip Baker Hall plays a Priest who enters their home and is attacked by flies. Perhaps a little insect repellent will do the trick. The children present are there to hear things go bump in the night and scream for mercy. This is a kind reminder that Chloe Grace Moretz goes on to bigger and thankfully better things. It serves as a reminder that Hollywood is only interested in a quick buck and with this pointless junk they succeed in delivering a film that is about as enjoyable as having your stomach pumped. At least give us the opportunity to upchuck on the film. Score: 2 / 10
