“Based on a true story” always raises a few red flags when it is claimed of a motion picture. We seem to instinctively react with some degree of skepticism when we read those words. Though it never will, by itself, diminish our enjoyment of a well-told story, we always have that little “did that really happen that way?” question in the back of our minds. It is prevalent enough when we are dealing with biographical films or historical epics, but when we see those 5 little words in front of a Horror movie, they take on a whole new life. When we see those words in front of a Horror movie the immediate reaction will almost always be; “yeah, right”. This is especially true if the film is a supernatural Horror movie. The movie had better be very effective or we will simply shut down. A good example of a film that made it work was 1979’s THE AMITYVILLE HORROR.
More under the fold!
Margot Kidder and James Brolin play Kathy and George Lutz, a young couple who moves their family into a beautiful home on a peaceful street in Amityville, New York. Though creeped out that the home was the site of a brutal mass murder the year before, the neighborhood and house seem ideal and after moving in, the couple has Father Delaney (Rod Steiger) over to bless the house. The blessing only goes so far before the house - or whatever it is inside - rebels and sends him fleeing. Over the next few weeks, George becomes sullen and detached from the family. The family dog obsessively scratches at a secret door in the basement. The front door is thrown off its hinges at 3:15 am - the same time that George seems to wake up at every night. And these events are just the beginning…
THE AMITYVILLE HORROR is a haunted-house movie that is told with great energy and urgency. Stuart Rosenberg’s direction is expertly paced, making us feel as slowly overwhelmed as the family is in the house. Lalo Schiffrin was given an Oscar nomination for his brilliant score which escalates in intensity right along with the paranormal events. Fred Koenekamp’s moody cinematography somehow manages to convey just how cold and lifeless the house is even with a young family inhabiting it. These elements, along with others, all work to help us overcome our skepticism of the film’s factual truth and just go along for what turns out to be a fun, scary ride.
So did the events of THE AMITYVILLE HORROR actually occur? Probably not. Very few people ever really took the Lutz’s story seriously. Even those who did at the time now believe it was made up from whole cloth. Should it matter as you are watching the movie? Heck no! THE AMITYVILLE HORROR is an excellent haunted house movie that is effective enough without the “Based on a true story” disclaimer. In fact, since it most likely IS fiction, it’s probably best to just disregard that sentence altogether…
THE AMITYVILLE HORROR fun facts - Both Margot Kidder and James Brolin are on the record as saying they do not believe the Lutz‘s story.
In order to get the flies to swarm Rod Steiger, honey was smeared on his head.
The legendary supernatural occurrences that dogged the production were wholly made up by the studio in order gain more publicity for the film.
The house - “Get out!“
George - “What do you want from us? God damn it, this is MY house!!”
Bartender - “Jesus, I‘m sorry. You look just like that kid. You know, he was sitting right in that seat where you are when he was arrested.”