The Amityville Horror (Stuart Rosenberg, 1979, USA)

The Amityville Horror was one of the most successful films in 1979, riding the wave of religious horror launched by The Exorcist and continued with The Omen. Directed by Stuart Rosenberg, the film was perhaps not the first horror film to be advertised as being "based on a true story" (that distinction might go to Texas Chain Saw Massacre), but it was certainly one of the most notable early examples of this phenomenon, and did a great deal to boost ticket sales. While the original haunting upon which the film is based has largely been debunked (its association with the notorious paranormal investigators the Warrens didn't help), the film has entered the popular consciousness and spawned numerous sequels and remakes.

While there are certainly many films that are more successful financially than their actual quality would indicate, there are few horror films as well known as Amityville that truly fail to live up to their legacy. This is not to say that Amityville is an awful film - it just simply isn't a classic by any stretch of the word. While it is easy to see why the film took off during its cultural epoch - the precarity around home ownership was a real concern for many Americans during the bleak end of the 1970s - the movie itself is now a bit clumsy and heavy-handed.

This is probably most due to Rosenberg, who was more of a studio hired hand than a figure like William Friedkin or Richard Donner, both of whom had heavy personal stamps that they imprinted on their respective horror masterpieces. Nevertheless, there are some interesting ideas in the film, and some good set pieces. Amityville Horror is perhaps best viewed by those studying horror history, than those looking to be scared or impressed by a horror film.

6/10