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Amityville: The Awakening (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Amityville: The Awakening (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 85 min · English
Echo score 37
JustWatch #32,511 8
Directed by
Franck Khalfoun
Starring
Mckenna Grace, Cameron Monaghan, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Bella Thorne, Thomas Mann, Jennifer Morrison

Facing financial hardship, a family moves into the infamous Amityville house. Soon, unsettling events begin to occur, and teenage Belle discovers disturbing truths about her mother’s past and the sudden, mysterious revival of her brother from a coma. As the strange occurrences intensify, Belle must confront the malevolent forces residing within the house and fight to protect her family from a terrifying evil.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Amityville: The Awakening
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Amityville: The Awakening (2017)

Where can you watch Amityville: The Awakening? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Fawesome and Kanopy: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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5 main characters · contains spoilers

Amityville: The Awakening Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Amityville: The Awakening (2017), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Joan Walker (Jennifer Jason Leigh)

    Joan is a determined mother seeking a fresh start for her family after a tragic accident left her son James brain-dead. Her conviction that James is improving reveals her hopefulness against the backdrop of despair. As the sinister events unfold, Joan grapples with her declining faith and the weight of her decisions, ultimately leading to heartbreaking consequences.

    • 👩‍👧‍👦 Motherhood
    • 💪 Resilience
  • Belle (Bella Thorne)

    Belle is a high school student who faces ridicule due to her family's infamous new home. Her journey reflects her struggle for acceptance while coping with her brother's condition. As the hauntings escalate, Belle's determination to uncover the truth about the house and protect her family emerges, showcasing her bravery and loyalty.

    • 🌟 Courage
    • 📚 Researcher
  • Juliet (Mckenna Grace)

    Juliet is a young girl who becomes entwined in the house's sinister occurrences. She is characterized by her sweet and innocent nature, contrasted by the terror that surrounds her. Her relationship with James adds depth to her character, as she navigates the fear and confusion brought on by the supernatural elements in their new home.

    • 👧 Innocence
    • 💕 Sisterly Love
  • James (Cameron Monaghan)

    James is the brain-injured brother who becomes a focal point of the film's haunting narrative. His unique condition leads to supernatural implications, raising questions about possession and the influence of the house's dark past. James' struggle for connection with his family amidst his affliction symbolizes the deeper themes of loss and hope.

    • ⚡ Possession
    • 🛌 Tragedy
  • Dr. Milton (Kurtwood Smith)

    Dr. Milton serves as a medical figure in the family’s life, providing insight into James's condition. His skepticism regarding the family's claims about James’s improvement adds to the tension, representing the conflict between logic and the supernatural. His unsettling experiences reflect the pervasive darkness entwined with the house.

    • 🩺 Medicine
    • 👨‍⚕️ Skepticism

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:17

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Setting

Where and When Does Amityville: The Awakening Take Place?

The setting of Amityville: The Awakening (2017): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

1974, Present Day

The film juxtaposes events from 1974, when Ronald DeFeo, Jr. committed gruesome murders, with contemporary events as Joan Walker and her family move into the same house decades later. This time span highlights the enduring influence of past tragedies on present lives, revealing how haunting legacies can reverberate through generations. The fear associated with the house manifests in both eras, presenting a stark contrast between the past's horrors and the present's struggles.

Location

Amityville, Long Island, New York, 112 Ocean Avenue

Amityville is a village located on Long Island, New York, known for the infamous events surrounding the house at 112 Ocean Avenue. This residence is synonymous with horror, stemming from the brutal murders committed there in 1974, which have become a cornerstone of supernatural folklore. The village combines a serene coastal atmosphere with a chilling historical backdrop that continues to captivate and terrify.

  • 🏡 Haunted House
  • 🌊 Oceanfront

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:17

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3 major themes

Amityville: The Awakening Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Amityville: The Awakening (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Supernatural Horror

    The theme of supernatural horror permeates the film as the haunted history of the Amityville house affects its current residents. The presence of Ronald DeFeo, Jr. looms large, symbolizing the darkness that can ensnare individuals and families. The characters grapple with possession, trauma, and the fear of the unknown, showing how the past can manifest in terrifying ways.

  • Tragedy

    Tragedy unfolds throughout the movie, particularly surrounding the character of James, who suffers a devastating injury in a traumatic incident. The ramifications of his condition deeply affect the family dynamics and serve as a catalyst for the horror that ensues. The tragic backstory of the house intertwines with their personal suffering, highlighting that history often holds devastating consequences.

  • Familial Bonds

    Familial bonds are tested under extreme circumstances in the film. Joan's desperate attempts to care for James reveal the lengths a mother will go for her children, while Belle's determination to save her brother shows the strength of sibling love. However, the sinister influence of the house threatens to tear the family apart, showcasing the fragility of these connections in the face of supernatural horrors.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:17

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Character & theme questions

Amityville: The Awakening Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Amityville: The Awakening (2017): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Amityville: The Awakening set?

The film takes place in Amityville, a village on Long Island, New York. Specifically, the family moves into the notorious house at 112 Ocean Avenue, which has become legendary in supernatural folklore due to the brutal murders committed there in 1974.

  • amityville
  • long island
  • ocean avenue
  • haunted house
  • new york
Q2

When does the movie take place?

The film spans two time periods: 1974, when Ronald DeFeo, Jr. committed the infamous murders at the house, and present day, when Joan Walker and her family move into the same house decades later. This juxtaposition highlights how past tragedies continue to impact the present.

  • 1974
  • present day
  • time period
  • decades later
Q3

What is the supernatural horror theme in Amityville: The Awakening?

The film centers on supernatural horror as the haunted history of the Amityville house affects its current residents. The presence of Ronald DeFeo, Jr. symbolizes the darkness that can ensnare families, with characters grappling with possession, trauma, and the fear of the unknown.

  • supernatural
  • possession
  • haunted house
  • horror
  • trauma
Q4

What role does tragedy play in the movie?

Tragedy is a central theme, particularly surrounding James, who suffers a devastating injury that leaves him brain-dead. His condition becomes a catalyst for the horror that unfolds, as the house's tragic past intertwines with the family's personal suffering.

  • tragedy
  • injury
  • brain injury
  • family tragedy
Q5

How are familial bonds explored in Amityville: The Awakening?

The film tests familial bonds under extreme circumstances. Joan's desperate attempts to care for James reveal a mother's determination, while Belle's fight to save her brother showcases sibling love. However, the house's sinister influence threatens to tear the family apart.

  • family
  • mother
  • siblings
  • familial love
  • bonds
Q6

Who is Joan Walker in the film?

Joan Walker (played by Jennifer Jason Leigh) is the mother who moves her family into the Amityville house seeking a fresh start after a tragic accident left her son James brain-dead. Her hopeful belief that James is improving drives much of the family's actions, even as sinister events unfold.

  • joan walker
  • mother
  • jennifer jason leigh
Q7

What is Belle's role in the story?

Belle (played by Bella Thorne) is a high school student who faces ridicule because of her family's infamous new home. She struggles for acceptance while coping with her brother's condition, eventually becoming determined to uncover the truth about the house and protect her family.

  • belle
  • bella thorne
  • teenage daughter
  • protagonist
Q8

What is James's condition in Amityville: The Awakening?

James is the brain-injured brother whose condition becomes the focal point of the film's haunting narrative. His unique state raises questions about possession and the influence of the house's dark past, symbolizing themes of loss and hope.

  • james
  • brain injury
  • coma
  • possession
  • brother
Q9

Why is the Amityville house significant?

The house at 112 Ocean Avenue has become a cornerstone of supernatural folklore due to the brutal murders committed there in 1974. The film explores how the fear associated with the house manifests across both the past and present, creating a chilling historical backdrop.

  • 112 ocean avenue
  • haunted house
  • famous house
  • murders
Q10

Who is Dr. Milton in the movie?

Dr. Milton (played by Kurtwood Smith) serves as the family's doctor, providing insight into James's condition. His skepticism about the family's claims regarding James's improvement adds tension, representing the conflict between logic and the supernatural.

  • dr milton
  • kurtwood smith
  • doctor
  • skeptic

Movie threads

More Movies Like Amityville: The Awakening, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Amityville: The Awakening tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Dread-Filled Haunted House Stories like Amityville: The Awakening

Families confront malevolent forces within a home that becomes a prison of fear. If you liked the oppressive tension of Amityville: The Awakening, explore more movies where a family is terrorized within their own home. This collection features similar horror stories about supernatural possession, psychological torment, and the desperate fight against a malevolent force rooted in a house's dark history.

  • haunted house
  • supernatural
  • dread
  • family terror
  • possession
  • ominous
  • Tone: dark, sinister
  • Pacing: steady, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a family who moves into a new home, only to discover it is haunted. Unsettling events begin subtly, then intensify, revealing the property's grim past. The story centers on uncovering the truth behind the haunting while the characters fight to survive the entity's escalating attacks, often leading to tragic consequences.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together by their shared setting and core conflict: a malevolent location versus a vulnerable family. They create a cohesive experience through a consistently dark tone, high intensity scares, and a heavy emotional weight driven by themes of family trauma and loss.

Psychological Horror with Family Trauma like Amityville: The Awakening

Horror that intertwines supernatural threat with deep-seated family grief and guilt. For viewers who appreciated the heavy emotional weight and themes of grief in Amityville: The Awakening, this list features similar horror movies. These stories blend supernatural scares with deep explorations of family trauma, survivor's guilt, and psychological decay, creating a profoundly unsettling experience.

  • psychological
  • family trauma
  • grief
  • sinister
  • oppressive
  • emotional horror
  • Tone: dark, dreadful
  • Pacing: steady, psychological
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this pattern unfold by connecting a present-day supernatural threat to a tragic event in the characters' past. The horror serves to expose and amplify unresolved pain, such as the loss of a loved one or a past sin. The narrative journey is as much about confronting inner demons as it is about battling external ones, often leading to a somber or tragic resolution.

Why they belong together: These films are linked by their dual focus on supernatural horror and profound psychological themes. They share a dark, heavy tone and use a steady pacing to explore character psychology, making the horror feel personal and emotionally devastating beyond simple jump scares.

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Every angle

Amityville: The Awakening (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Amityville: The Awakening in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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