The Amityville Horror (2005) (2005)

Medium level violence, Horror theme

What really happened in 1974 in a house in Amityville, Long Island may be open for discussion. There is no doubt, however, that the supposedly true story, as told by Jay Anson in his bestselling book, remains fascinating for anyone remotely interested in the paranormal or, simply, a good haunted house yarn. From the book came a movie in 1979, followed by a “prequel” three years later, a third film that added 3-D to the thrills in 1983 and five TV movies with the word “Amityville” in their titles but little else that bore any resemblance to the original story.

In 2005’s The Amityville Horror, we return to the haunting that bred all those imitators.

When George and Kathy Lutz (Ryan Reynolds and Melissa George) and their three kids move into what they believe will be their dream home, they are unprepared for the nightmare that will follow. A year earlier, the house had become the scene of a gruesome crime during which a young man slaughtered his parents and four siblings while they slept. The man confessed to the crime, claiming that “voices” in the house had driven him to the murders.

Shortly after the Lutz family moves in, bizarre and inexplicable events begin to occur when terrifying visions and haunting voices confront them. It seems that something evil still lurks within the house…