Talk Horror The Mouth of Madness
There is no question that the Amityville franchise has seen better days.
Started in 1979, The Amityville Horror marked the beginning of the Amityville film franchise. Based on the Jay Anson novel from 1977, the film purported to depict the experiences of George & Kathy Lutz after they moved into the infamous home at 112 Ocean Avenue.
The success of the original film ensured that a sequel, Amityville II: The Possession would follow. Well a sequel of sorts, as it was actually based around the crime that predated the Lutz family and their experience. You see this 1982 entry was based on real life DeFeo family murders as detailed in Hans Holger‘s Murder in Amityville.
Since that time, there have been six additional sequels, two reboots and an astonishing fifty-six independent films. You read that correctly: 56!
My focus here will avoid further discussion on sixty-three of the films, and focus on the last studio release: Amityville: The Awakening.
A Meta Reboot?
Starring Bella Thorne, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Cameron Monaghan and Kurtwood Smith, the film already has some star power. Where The Amityville Horror (2005) was a remake of the 1979 film, this one seems to be a reboot of Amityville II: The Possession. It even starts with news footage of the DeFeo family murders.
In this entry, Joan Walker (Leigh) moves in to the infamous house at 112 Ocean Avenue with her family: daughters Belle (Thorne) and Juliet (Mckenna Grace), and Belle’s brain dead twin brother James (Monaghan). Almost immediately Belle clashes with her mother, insisting that James simply isn’t there.
At school Belle makes friends with Terrence (Thomas Mann), an enthusiast on the Amityville haunting. Joined by fellow classmate Marissa (Taylor Spreitler), Belle and Terrence have a movie night experience featuring The Amityville Horror. In this universe the films already exist.
James begins to show signs of consciousness, and his mother becomes obsessed with him to the detriment of her daughters. In the meantime Belle has nighmares about the DeFeo family murders, and becomes convinced that James is possessed by something in the house. Is history about to repeat itself?
The Verdict
The final act of the film is not intense in the conventional sense. Gore is not an issue, though there is some brief Oedipal incestuous innuendo. What is it with this franchise?
The film was also co-produced by Blumhouse Productions, so naturally there are at least a few jump scares. I realize that the connection with Blumhouse will discourage some viewers. But that said, I think the film actually improved upon Amityville II: The Possession.
As it only garnered a Rotten Tomatoes score of 29% amongst critics and 32% with the audience, it’s not a great film. But in my opinion I think it more effective than most of the sequels, whether studio or independent.
If you’re looking for a haunted house film you haven’t seen, give Amityville: The Awakening a try. It may scratch an itch you didn’t know you had!
