Reviewed by Johnny McNair

MGM Home Entertainment – 119 minutes – 1979 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 1.85:1 – DTS HD Lossless Master 5.1 Audio

Movies centering on haunted houses have been around since the silent era, because being afraid in your own home is everyone’s worst fear. What makes the 1979 film The Amityville Horror stand out is that it’s based on a true events that happened in the 70’s in a small town in Long Island, NY, where a young man who claims that his mind was taken over by demonic forces, used a shotgun to murder six members of their family while they slept. A year later a new family, the Lutzes, move into this house and after only 28 days of horror they flee the home, claiming a presence of evil forced them out. The Amityville Horror makes its debut on Blu-ray from MGM Home Entertainment, for you to judge whether it’s fact or fiction.

THE MOVIE

The Amityville Horror is based on the book written by George and Kathy Lutz based upon their 28 day experience living in the dream home they purchased that nearly drove them to insanity. Margot Kidder and James Brolin play the Lutzes, a newly married couple who move into the house with three children from Kathy’s previous marriage. At first everything is perfect as the family attempts to settle in, but then odd things begin to occur, such as the young daughter claiming that ‘Jodie’ her imaginary friend talks to her about things that went on in the house, and George waking up every morning at the exact time, 3:15, which is when the murders in the home took place.

The family priest played by Rod Steiger, notices something is immediately wrong when he comes over to bless the house, and is literally told to “Get out!” by an unseen force that begins to break him down physically to keep him away. George seems to be the one most affected by the evil of the house, as within weeks he is taken over by violent mood swings and his appearance changes making him look deranged, resembling the guy who killed his family in the house.

When a hidden red room is found in the basement that could possibly be the passageway to hell, it’s the last straw for the Lutzes, and they desperately attempt to escape this demonic house in fear that what happened to the last family will also be their fate. After only a month, the Lutzes flee their home in the middle of the night, leaving all their belongings, never to return again.

Every haunted house trick in the book is used in The Amityville Horror, included doors that open and close by themselves, a rocking chair that moves on its own, telephones ringing with no one on the other end, and of course voices in the dark. As a kid I remember seeing this film on TV and being terrified, but looking at it with older eyes you can see how tame it is. But to its credit you can also see how it’s simple style is very effective, compared to the horrible remake that came out in 2005 that was filled with visual effects and looked like a music video.

There has been plenty of controversy over the George and Kathy’s story, because many believe it was all just a scam to sell the book. You can watch one of those true-life crime/horror shows that they run on cable, and every now and then the Amityville case will be featured pointing out all the inaccuracies. But if you ever see The Amityville Horror book in a dollar bin at a used books store, I suggests you pick up and after reading it see the movie for yourself to be the judge.

VIDEO

The Amityville Horror arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p image in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio (even though the back of the box inaccurately lists it at 2.35:1. The transfer was done as best as it could be, but this film is nearly 30 years old and has seen better days. Colors are not that strong, looking very muted at times, but the sharpness in the character’s close-ups looks very good. Darker scenes are flooded with grain, and there are times when there are moments of fuzziness between scenes, but overall this is the best you’re ever going to see this film…that is until the next super definition format pops up in the future.

AUDIO

With a DTS-HD Lossless 5.1 Master, the sound for The Amityville Horror is not very impressive, with muddled dialogue and simplistic sound effects, like a window shattering or a door slamming. The best thing is the creepy music with the children chanting, that on a dark night will send a shiver down your spine. This mix won’t even raise the levels on your surround sound system, but it works for what it is.

EXTRAS

This blows! What’s up with MGM and Fox not releasing any bonus features on this Blu-ray? Besides the trailer, there’s nothing there. The standard DVD had a good selection of bonus material on the special edition, so charging $39.98 for a bare bones Blu-ray is scarier than the movie itself. Shame…Shame.

BOTTOM LINE

I first saw The Amityville Horror at a very impressionable age, so it still works for me in places even though it’s very dated. This Blu-ray would have been worth it if the bonus features from the standard DVD were added, but as it is, unless you’re a hardcore fan, this is no more than a Halloween rental.

SCORES (out of 5):

The Movie: 3.0

Video: 3.0

Sound: 2.0

Extras: 0.0

Bottom Line: 2.5