The Real Amityville Horror

The Real Amityville Horror

Year: 2005

Runtime: 50 mins

Language: English

Directors: Craig Collinson, Nick Freand Jones

Budget: $19M

Documentary

A haunting documentary about a normal family living in Connecticut, who, after moving into their new house, are terrorized by an evil ghost that dwells in the home.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Real Amityville Horror 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 Real Amityville Horror (2005)

Trace every key event in The Real Amityville Horror (2005) 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

The DeFeo family murders

At 3:15 AM on November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his entire family at their home on 412 Ocean Avenue. He later claimed that voices in the house persuaded him to kill. The brutal event cursed the property with a legacy of malevolent rumor and fear.

3:15 AM, November 13, 1974 Amityville, New York – 412 Ocean Avenue
2

A year later, the Lutz family moves in

George and Kathy Lutz relocate to the same house with Kathy's three children, seeking a fresh start. Almost immediately, they begin to experience unsettling paranormal activity that unsettles the family. The house at 412 Ocean Avenue becomes a stage for inexplicable phenomena.

circa 1975 (one year after the murders) 412 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY
3

Chelsea befriends Jodie

Chelsea claims to have befriended a girl named Jodie, a name linked to one of the murdered DeFeo children. The claim hints at a personal connection to the haunting. The presence of Jodie foreshadows increasingly troubling events inside the house.

early in the Lutz stay 412 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY
4

Lisa the babysitter encounters Jodie

Babysitter Lisa arrives for the evening, and Kathy explains the house’s dark history. Chelsea warns Lisa that Jodie has criticized her, hinting at danger if Lisa misreads the situation. Lisa is dared to enter Chelsea’s closet, is locked inside, and encounters Jodie, collapsing in shock before medics arrive.

that evening during babysitting 412 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY
5

George's escalating abuse and the dog murder

George’s abusive behavior intensifies, and he appears to be under a malign influence. He follows an unholy barking from the boathouse and, wielding an axe, murders the family dog, mistaking it for a demonic presence. The act deepens the family’s fear and sense of danger.

one night after moving in House and boathouse, Amityville, NY
6

Kathy seeks spiritual protection

Kathy asks Father Callaway to bless the house in an attempt to ward off the hauntings. The blessing proves futile as the phenomena grow stronger, and the priest flees the residence when confronted by the supernatural. The attempt underscores the house’s overwhelming malevolence.

after the dog incident 412 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY
7

The house's dark past revealed

Kathy learns that the house once belonged to Reverend Jeremiah Ketcham, a cult preacher whose brutal actions against Native Americans are said to fuel the haunting. The revelation ties the hauntings to a centuries-old history of violence. The discovery intensifies the sense that violence lingers in the home.

midway through the haunting 412 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY
8

George confronts apparitions in the basement

While wandering the basement, George encounters the apparitions of Native Americans who were tortured there. He also meets Ketcham himself, who slits George’s throat, spraying blood and seemingly transferring the evil to him. The encounter marks George as a focal point of possession and deepens the haunting’s menace.

during the haunting's escalation Basement, 412 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY
9

Kathy plans evacuation with guidance

Following urgent advice from Father Callaway, Kathy attempts to evacuate her children from the house and move them to safety. The family struggles to leave as the manifestations grow more aggressive around them. The plan signals a turning point toward escape.

late in the stay 412 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY
10

The possession escalates; the escape

The possessed George again attacks in an attempt to kill Kathy and the children. Kathy knocks him unconscious and ferries the family away from the residence by boat. The escape marks their decision to abandon the house for good.

immediate during the attempted attack From the house to the nearby water, Amityville, NY
11

The family leaves the house

A title card states that the family left within 28 days of arriving and never returned. The abrupt departure ends their stay in the infamous home. The house is left vacant, rumored to be haunted by its dark history.

within 28 days of arrival 412 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY
12

Jodie remains behind; the house resets

In the now-empty house, Jodie stands in terror as the rooms seem to rearrange themselves back to their original configuration. Then a pair of disembodied hands pulls Jodie beneath the floor, sealing the house’s grim past. The haunting lingers even after the family’s departure.

after the family leaves 412 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:09

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Real Amityville Horror

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