The Amityville Horror

The Amityville Horror

Year: 1979

Runtime: 117 min

Language: English

Director: Stuart Rosenberg

Horror

A young family, the Lutzes, move into a large house in Long Island, unaware of its horrifying past. Strange and disturbing events quickly begin to occur, revealing a dark history of tragedy and violence. As malevolent forces invade their lives, the Lutzes find themselves battling an unseen evil. A desperate priest is called upon to help, but can he exorcise the presence before it destroys the family?

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Timeline & Setting – The Amityville Horror (1979)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Amityville Horror (1979). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1975

The events of the film take place in the fall of 1975, shortly after the Lutz family moves into their new home. This period is significant as it follows a tragic family murder that took place less than a year prior in the same house. The 1970s were marked by a growing interest in the paranormal and the supernatural, reflected in the culturally impactful horror films of the era.

Location

Amityville, Long Island, New York

Amityville is a small village in Suffolk County, New York, known for its picturesque landscape along the coast of Long Island. The Lutz family purchased a Dutch Colonial home there, which is infamous for the tragic events that occurred prior to their arrival. The house, dubbed 'High Hopes,' has become a site of horror stories and urban legends due to its haunting history.

🏠 House 🌊 Coast

Last Updated: January 14, 2025 at 22:10

Main Characters – The Amityville Horror (1979)

Meet the key characters of The Amityville Horror (1979), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

George Lutz (James Brolin)

George Lutz is a complex character who transforms from an eager homeowner into a troubled individual overwhelmed by the sinister forces in his house. As the supernatural occurrences intensify, his demeanor darkens, showcasing a deepening obsession with the home’s eerie elements. His struggle against these forces highlights themes of strength and vulnerability in facing evil.

🏡 Homeowner 😠 Anger 💔 Trauma

Kathy Lutz (Margot Kidder)

Kathy Lutz serves as both a nurturing mother and a fearful witness to the haunting events unfolding in their new home. As the family faces increasingly disturbing occurrences, she tries to maintain her family's stability but becomes increasingly distressed. Kathy’s character embodies the tension between motherhood, fear, and the desperate search for safety.

👩‍👧‍👦 Mother 😱 Fear 🕵️‍♀️ Investigator

Father Delaney (Rod Steiger)

Father Delaney is a dedicated priest tasked with blessing the Lutz's home. His character represents faith under siege as he confronts overwhelming supernatural forces. His experiences lead to a profound struggle, showcasing the psychological toll of battling forces beyond understanding, ultimately leading to his own breakdown.

✝️ Priest 📿 Faith 😵 Struggle

Last Updated: January 14, 2025 at 22:10

Major Themes – The Amityville Horror (1979)

Explore the central themes of The Amityville Horror (1979), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👻 Supernatural

The theme of the supernatural is prevalent throughout the movie, as the Lutz family experiences a variety of inexplicable and disturbing phenomena in their new home. These events are deeply tied to the dark history of the house and its connection to previous tragedies. The unseen forces at play highlight fears of the unknown and the impact of malevolence on an ordinary family.

🕊️ Faith

Faith, or the struggle with it, is a significant theme in 'The Amityville Horror.' The characters, particularly George and Kathy, face spiritual challenges as they grapple with the evil they encounter. Father Delaney’s attempts to bless the house represent a search for divine protection, suggesting that even faith can be severely tested in the face of overwhelming darkness.

Last Updated: January 14, 2025 at 22:10

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Haunted house movies like The Amityville Horror

Ordained spaces turn sinister as a family is trapped and tormented by an unseen evil.If you enjoyed the relentless supernatural siege in The Amityville Horror, these movies feature families battling malevolent forces within their own homes. You'll find similar stories of psychological torment, escalating paranormal events, and the chilling destruction of a family unit by an unseen evil.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically begins with a family moving into a new home, unaware of its dark past. Strange, unsettling events start small and escalate in frequency and severity, targeting each family member. The story follows their gradual realization of the threat, their failed attempts to fight back or rationalize the events, and their eventual desperate struggle for escape as the entity seeks to destroy or possess them.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together for their shared premise of a domestic space under supernatural attack. They create a specific kind of dread by exploiting the fear of unsafe homes, featuring similar pacing of steadily mounting terror, a dark and oppressive tone, and heavy emotional weight centered on family peril.

Slow burn horror movies with psychological dread like The Amityville Horror

A steady, oppressive descent into madness where the threat is as psychological as it is physical.Fans of The Amityville Horror's methodical build of terror will appreciate these films. They share a steady pacing that crafts an atmosphere of pervasive dread, focusing on psychological unraveling and a palpable sense of inescapable doom that gets under your skin.

slow burnpsychologicaloppressivedread-filledunsettlingnightmarishparanoiddescent into madness

Narrative Summary

The narrative unfolds without significant lulls, methodically presenting a series of increasingly disturbing events that chip away at the protagonists' sanity. The conflict is often internal as much as external, with characters doubting their perceptions while facing a malevolent force. The journey is a linear descent into darkness, typically culminating in a tragic or bleak resolution where the evil prevails or leaves lasting scars.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their specific approach to horror: a steady pacing that builds tension relentlessly, a dark and oppressive tone, and a focus on psychological terror over graphic violence. They deliver a heavy, stressful viewing experience defined by a pervasive sense of unease and inevitable doom.

Unlock the Full Story of The Amityville Horror

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The Amityville Horror Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Amityville Horror, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Amityville Horror Summary

The Amityville Horror Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Amityville Horror with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Amityville Horror Timeline

The Amityville Horror Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Amityville Horror that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Amityville Horror Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Amityville Horror

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More About The Amityville Horror