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Amityville: The Awakening (2017) movie poster

Timeline

Amityville: The Awakening (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 85 min · English
Echo score 37
JustWatch #32,507 4
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 (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Amityville: The Awakening
  6. 6 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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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Amityville: The Awakening Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Amityville: The Awakening (2017) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Ronald DeFeo, Jr. Murders Family

    In 1974, Ronald DeFeo, Jr. committed a horrific act by brutally killing his entire family at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville. He claimed that he was influenced by sinister voices in the house, leaving a dark shadow over the residence.

    When
    1974
    Where
    Amityville, Long Island, New York
  2. Joan Moves In

    More than forty years later, Joan Walker relocates to the infamous Amityville house with her children: Belle, Juliet, and James, along with their dog, Larry. She hopes for a fresh start after a tragic accident left James brain-dead, but Belle is skeptical about the move.

    Where
    Amityville, Long Island, New York
  3. Belle Faces School Bullying

    As Belle adjusts to her new school, she becomes the target of ridicule due to her living situation in the infamous house. The only student showing her kindness is Terrence, who becomes her friend amidst the hostility.

  4. Miraculous Revival

    One night, Belle finds Juliet wandering the hallways, and they rush to James's room when they hear alarming beeping. Joan desperately tries to revive James as he flat-lines, and against the odds, she miraculously brings him back to life.

    Where
    Amityville House
  5. Belle Researches the House's History

    While at school, Belle conducts research and uncovers the tragic murders that took place in their new home. This leads her to watch 'Amityville Horror' with Terrence, deepening her fascination and trepidation about the house's dark past.

    Where
    School
  6. Dr. Milner's Concerns

    In a meeting with Dr. Milner and her sister Candace, Joan expresses her belief that James is improving. However, Dr. Milner shares his concerns based on past experiences with similar cases, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding James's condition.

    Where
    Doctor's Office
  7. Belle's Nightmare

    Belle experiences a terrifying nightmare involving blood-stained wallpaper and an eerie encounter with Ronald DeFeo, Jr. This ominous dream reflects her growing fears about the house and her brother's strange behavior.

    Where
    Amityville House
  8. Eerie Movie Night

    At 3:15 AM, the same time the infamous murders occurred, Terrence and his friend Marissa arrive to watch 'Amityville Horror.' When the power unexpectedly cuts out, they explore the basement and discover remnants of the past, heightening the suspense.

    When
    3:15 AM
    Where
    Basement, Amityville House
  9. Possession Begins

    As Joan and Dr. Milner conduct tests on James, Dr. Milner experiences a disturbing vision that compels him to leave the house abruptly. Concurrently, Belle and Juliet begin to notice hauntings and terrifying dreams hinting that James may be possessed.

    Where
    Amityville House
  10. Confession of Guilt

    Belle confides to Marissa about the tragic incident that left James brain-dead, revealing her guilt over his injury. They begin to suspect that the malevolent presence in the house may indeed be influencing James's behavior.

  11. Chilling Messages

    In a moment of desperation, Belle tries to communicate with James, only to receive terrifying messages on his communication device stating, 'KILL ME' and 'GET OUT.' This situation intensifies the fear of possession among the family.

    Where
    Amityville House
  12. Escalating Desperation

    Belle discovers a chilling message scratched into the basement wall reading 'KILL THEM ALL,' fueling her determination to expose James's possession. She confides in her mother, revealing her fears and the dark history of their home.

    Where
    Basement, Amityville House
  13. Tragic Confrontation

    During a chaotic night, James succumbs to the darkness and turns hostile, tragically killing Candace and Larry before aiming his gun at Joan. In a desperate act of love, Belle intervenes, launching herself and James through a window.

    Where
    Amityville House
  14. The Departure of Darkness

    As Belle and James fall outside, the dark presence leaves James's body, reverting him to his frail state. In his final moments, he expresses gratitude to Belle for saving him, providing her with a bittersweet closure.

    Where
    Outside Amityville House
  15. Aftermath and Investigation

    Following the tragic events, Belle faces a police investigation regarding the deaths of her mother, brother, and Candace. With the horror of the Amityville house still echoing, Belle and Juliet stand together to recount the chilling truth.

    Where
    Amityville House

Last updated: November 02, 2024 at 13:23

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Timeline questions answered

Amityville: The Awakening Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Amityville: The Awakening (2017): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does James suddenly wake up from his coma in the Amityville house?

James wakes up because Joan desperately tries to revive him when he flat-lines, and she miraculously brings him back. However, this revival is not a true miracle, it is the moment the house's dark presence takes hold of James, beginning his possession.

  • james coma
  • revival
  • possession
  • amityville house
Q2

Why does James become possessed by the Amityville house?

James becomes possessed because the house's malevolent entity seeks a vessel. Having been brain-dead and vulnerable, James becomes the perfect target. The dark presence uses him to carry out violence, as it did with Ronald DeFeo, Jr. decades earlier.

Foreshadowing: The news coverage at the beginning establishes that Ronald DeFeo, Jr. claimed the house's voices told him to kill his family.

  • possession
  • james
  • evil entity
  • amityville haunting
Q3

Why does Joan move her family to the Amityville house despite knowing its history?

Joan moves there because she is desperate for a miracle to save James, who has been brain-dead for years following an accident. After her husband's death and losing faith in God, she clings to the hope that the infamous house might somehow revive her son. Her grief and desperation blind her to the danger.

  • joan walker
  • amityville house
  • desperate mother
  • miracle
Q4

What triggers James to start killing his family members?

James turns violent when the possession fully takes control of him. After receiving the chilling messages "KILL ME" and "GET OUT" on his communication device, James breaks free from his bed, retrieves a firearm from the basement, and kills Candace and Larry before turning the gun on Joan. The house's evil has completely consumed him.

Foreshadowing: Belle's nightmare shows James walking and aiming a gun at her, foreshadowing his violent turn.

  • james violence
  • possession
  • shooting
  • candace death
Q5

What do the messages "KILL ME" and "GET OUT" mean that James types?

The messages "KILL ME" and "GET OUT" are James's desperate attempts to communicate through his eyelid-tracking computer. "KILL ME" shows he is aware of the possession and wants to be stopped before he harms anyone. "GET OUT" is a warning to his family, urging them to flee the house before it's too late.

  • kill me
  • get out
  • communication
  • james warning
Q6

Why does the dark presence leave James at the end of the movie?

The dark presence leaves James when he is thrown through the window and falls outside the house. This physically removes him from the domain of the Amityville house, severing the entity's hold on him. Once freed, James reverts to his frail, non-possessed state and thanks Belle for saving him before dying.

  • dark entity
  • possession ends
  • james death
  • amityville curse
Q7

What is the significance of 3:15 AM in the movie?

3:15 AM is the exact time Ronald DeFeo, Jr. murdered his family in 1974. Terrence and Marissa arrive at exactly this time to watch the Amityville Horror movie, intentionally echoing the original tragedy. This moment marks the escalation of supernatural activity in the house.

  • 3:15 am
  • ronald defeo
  • murder time
  • amityville history
Q8

How did James get injured and become brain-dead before moving to Amityville?

James was injured trying to protect Belle from bullies. Belle confides to Marissa that her brother was hurt in an attempt to shield her, leaving her with deep survivor's guilt. This tragic backstory explains why Joan is so desperate to save him and why Belle feels responsible for his condition.

  • james injury
  • bullies
  • brain dead
  • protective brother
Q9

Why does Joan ignore the obvious signs that something is wrong with James and the house?

Joan ignores the signs because she desperately wants to believe James is improving. After her husband's death, she lost her faith and moved to Amityville seeking a miracle. When James shows any sign of recovery, she clings to that hope, dismissing Dr. Milner's concerns and Belle's warnings. Her grief blinds her to the reality of possession.

  • joan denial
  • mother hope
  • dr milner concerns
  • supernatural signs
Q10

What does the "KILL THEM ALL" message scratched into the basement wall mean?

The message "KILL THEM ALL" scratched into the basement wall is the house's dark influence taking concrete form. It echoes the mass murders committed by Ronald DeFeo, Jr. and serves as a direct command from the entity, foreshadowing the violent rampage James will eventually carry out.

Foreshadowing: The basement discovery of past owners' remnants and the ominous "High Hopes" sign hints at the house's accumulated evil.

  • basement
  • kill them all
  • ronald defeo
  • prophecy
Q11

Why does Juliet seem normal after the traumatic events in Amityville?

Juliet appears normal because, unlike James, she was never targeted by the house's entity. Throughout the movie, she is shown talking to James and experiencing minor disturbances, but the darkness focused its possession entirely on the vulnerable James. At the end, she supports Belle's account to police, showing she was a survivor rather than a victim of possession.

  • juliet
  • survivor
  • possession target
  • family aftermath

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

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