The Amityville Curse

The Amityville Curse

Year: 1990

Runtime: 91 mins

Language: English

Director: Tom Berry

HorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsTerrifying haunted and supernatural horrorGothic and eerie haunting horrorSpooky scary comedy

Returning to the most dangerous house in the world, Debbie and her husband purchase a property in Amityville, New York, and invite three close friends to help with renovations. The house immediately makes Debbie uneasy, and she is haunted by shockingly vivid nightmares that hint at the lingering evil of the infamous residence.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Amityville Curse yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – The Amityville Curse (1990)

Trace every key event in The Amityville Curse (1990) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Priest murdered; confession booth moved to basement

In 1974, a Catholic priest is shot to death in his parish confessional. The crime shocks Amityville, and the confession booth is removed and stored in the basement of the clergy house.

1974 Parish church, Amityville
2

Move-in and renovation begins

Twelve years later, psychologist Marvin and his wife Debbie buy the clergy house to renovate it. They invite their three friends—Frank, Bill, and Abigail—to help with the project. Debbie is uneasy about the house at first, sensing something unsettled.

12 years later Clergy house, Amityville
3

Basement noises and nightmares

Debbie begins to hear strange noises from the basement and experiences nightmares centered on the confession booth. Marvin reassures her and urges her to document the dreams for his psychoanalytic work.

Soon after moving in Clergy house basement
4

Mrs. Moriarty’s cryptic visit

Mrs. Moriarty, the eccentric former church secretary, stops by to visit the new residents. She seems cryptic and unsettling, hinting at the house's troubled history.

First visit Clergy house
5

Basement discovery and haunting signals

Marvin and Bill descend to the basement and discover the confession booth among other church artifacts. The house then experiences a spike in poltergeist activity, leading the group to believe they are haunted. Marvin remains skeptical of the supernatural explanation.

Evening after first visit Clergy house basement
6

Tavern talk and Moriarty encounter

To calm their nerves, the group goes out for dinner at a local bar. Marvin chats with two older men about the town's paranormal activity, and they imply the house may be possessed and connect it to a boy who killed his family. Debbie has a troubling encounter with Mrs. Moriarty in the bathroom, where she rants about the priest.

Evening Local tavern (Amityville) and bathroom
7

Moriarty’s murder captured on video

The next day, Mrs. Moriarty is found dead, thrown down the basement stairs by an unseen assailant. The murder is captured on a video camcorder Bill left in the house, inadvertently recording the killer's act.

Next day Clergy house basement
8

Police link past murder to present

Police identify the priest's killer as a local teenage boy who murdered the priest and then hanged himself before capture. Debbie also experiences a disturbing vision of a man hanging, hinting at the past and the house's rooted trauma.

Around the same period Police investigation; Amityville
9

Dreams deciphered; truth of the murder revealed

Abigail becomes unsettled and leaves the house. Marvin begins deciphering Debbie's dream diaries, realizing they contain Latin exorcism writing. Debbie's nightmares reveal the truth of the priest's murder: the priest was shot by his illegitimate son, conceived during an affair with a parishioner seeking vengeance.

Days later Clergy house
10

Marvin dies; possession revealed

Debbie awakens to find Marvin dead in the confession booth, setting off the chaos that follows. The killer is revealed to be Frank, now possessed by the priest's illegitimate son.

Shortly after Confession booth, clergy house basement
11

Possession escalates and pursuit

Frank, fully possessed, chases Debbie through the house, wielding the menace of the past. Debbie fights back, burning Frank's face with a heat source and later attempting to halt him with a nail gun.

Evening Clergy house interior
12

Final confrontation: Frank's downfall

Abigail returns to find Frank apparently dead, but he reawakens and throttles her. Debbie uses the processional cross to stab Frank through the chest, impaling him and ending his rampage.

Final confrontation Clergy house
13

Police escort and the house’s lingering mystery

Debbie and Abigail are escorted out by the police. A detective shows Debbie a photograph of an infant boy found at the crime scene and asks if it is hers; she answers that it belongs to the house, reinforcing the house's haunted history.

After the events Outside the house / crime scene

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:03

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of The Amityville Curse

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Amityville Curse in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Amityville Curse is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Amityville Curse Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Amityville Curse, 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 Curse Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Amityville Curse

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Amityville Curse. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Amityville Curse

More About The Amityville Curse

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Amityville Curse: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Amityville Curse