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Latest revision as of 09:20, 5 August 2026
The Amityville Horror is a 1979 American supernatural horror film directed by Stuart Rosenberg, based on Jay Anson's 1977 book The Amityville Horror. It stars James Brolin and Margot Kidder as George and Kathy Lutz, alongside Rod Steiger as a priest who attempts to exorcise the house, and became the first entry in a long-running franchise.
Plot
George and Kathy Lutz move into a Long Island Dutch Colonial house with Kathy's three children, unaware that the property was the scene of a mass murder committed the previous year. As the family settles in, they are beset by escalating and increasingly violent supernatural phenomena, with George in particular becoming progressively more disturbed and aggressive, while a local priest, brought in to bless the house, experiences his own terrifying encounters.
Production
Anson's own screenplay adaptation of his book was rejected by producers in favour of a version written by Sandor Stern. Amityville authorities denied the production permission to film at the real 112 Ocean Avenue house, and on-location filming instead took place at a house in Toms River, New Jersey, altered to resemble the original, with interiors shot at MGM's studios in California. James Brolin was initially hesitant to accept the lead role in the absence of a finished script, and instead read Anson's original novel before agreeing to join the production.
Reception and box office
The film was a substantial commercial success, grossing over $86 million domestically against a budget of roughly $4.7 million, making it the second-highest-grossing film released in the United States in 1979. Its box office performance was driven heavily by promotional emphasis on the story's claimed basis in real events. Critical reception was more mixed, though Lalo Schifrin's score received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score. The film's success launched a long-running franchise, including a 2005 remake and numerous sequels.