The Amityville Horror
On November 14, 1974, police received a frantic phone call that led them to a grisly crime scene at the Defeo residence in Amityville, Long Island – an entire family had been slaughtered in their beds. In the days that followed, Ronald Defeo confessed to methodically shooting his parents and four siblings while they slept. He claimed "voices" in the house drove him to commit the murders.
One year later, George and Kathy Lutz and their children moved into the house thinking it would be their dream home. But shortly after settling in, bizarre and unexplainable events began to occur – nightmarish visions and haunting voices from an evil presence still lurking within the house. 28 days after moving in, the Lutzes abandoned the home, lucky to escape with their lives. Now, 30 years after the shocking real-life events that inspired one of the most popular horror stories of all time, return to the house that started it all: "The Amityville Horror".
LATEST NEWS
3/17/05
The official site is now fully active.
3/03/05
The poster has been added above.
2/28/05
The new trailer is out thanks to Yahoo! Movies.
12/24/04
The official site is now hosting the new trailer for the film.
12/21/04
Some new on-set footage can be found here. It was apparently taken from a report with the entertainment show Extra. Thanks to "Bruno".
12/08/04
The official site has been launched, although there isn't much on it at the moment. I've also added a link to find the teaser trailer.
12/02/04
MTV went to the site recently to speak to stars Ryan Reynolds and Melissa George. You can check the video here. Thanks to "Bruno".
11/22/04
Star Ryan Reynolds spoke about the film, saying: "The movie is a more faithful adaptation of the book. It sticks to that, not the original film, so that's one of the things that drew me to it. I was just into stretching as an actor. The movie has absolutely no winking or comedy; it's just a straight psychological thriller."
He then spoke about the director... "He's the one that brought it to life. He's a documentarian actually, but he just has a brilliant visual style. The thing that I was most shocked about him was that how adept he was at exploring the psychology of the film and the emotional beats. He was way more concerned with that, then the visual, so I was just blown away by the whole experience. It exceeded my wildest expectations. I went in the first day thinking "what the f*ck am I doing here". I had no handle on the character, as much research as I had done, and I didn't feel I was ready for it, but when we started shooting, I never felt so comfortable." Read more here.
11/17/04
You can check some prop crime photos to help promote the film here. Just scroll down a bit.
11/02/04
MTV went to the Amityville set and spoke with star Ryan Reynolds. You can check the footage here. Thanks to "Bruno".
10/30/04
Added a couple new pics.
10/21/04
Fango posted a report on the film recently, talking with producer Brad Fuller. Here's what was said: "We were looking for a very scary movie that’s somewhat based in reality, and that’s how we landed on Amityville. We loved the idea that it was based on a true story. You have a family moving in and running for their lives after 28 days and never going back to claim one of their possessions. It’s all true. There’s no debating it. That, to us, is very strong."
He then went on to talk about how him and screenwriter Scott Kosar researched the history of the story and interviewed various people who were involved in the investigation of the murder. He was quoted saying...
"We try to give a real reason why [murderer] Ronny DeFeo did the things he did, why George Lutz had this connection to the house. In our version, you will see what the evil is."
Lastly he went on to say...
"The cast were very keen to make it as layered as the genre could take. In terms of dysfunctional family, in terms of trying to track that psychological flaw that something like possession might be able to wedge itself into." The film wrapped filming last week.
10/18/04
You can read an interview with star Ryan Reynolds here, along with interviews with actress Melissa George and director Andrew Douglas.
10/13/04
I've added a cool new pic courtesy of RyanReynolds.tv
10/07/04
You can check a set visit for the film here.
10/05/04
Star Ryan Reynolds speaks about his role in the film over at SciFi Wire, check it here.
10/01/04
Actress Melissa George talked with SciFi Wire recently, revealing how she didn't have to act much when it came to being scared, saying: "I've been creeped out a lot. It was just great to use it in the character. ... And just the thought of her husband literally going crazy at this point and what is going on, I really kind of get into that role to the point where I get quite freaked out. And by the time they call out, 'Action,' I'm ready to deliver." You can read more here.
9/23/04
I've added the first official still for the film that was found here. You can also view a Yahoo! behind-the-scenes clip here. Thanks to "Tom".
9/15/04
More on-set Amityville photos can be found here. You can catch some of the cast, including star Ryan Reynolds in some of the pics.
8/23/04
A Ryan Reynolds unofficial fansite scored some on-set photos of the house that'll be used for the film. You can check it to your right, while you can view more pics on the set here. Thanks to "Jay".
8/09/04
The release has been pushed from January 15th to April 15th.
8/02/04
I've added to the cast -- Philip Baker Hall will play Father McNamara, while James and Moretz are taking on the roles of the family's children, Chelsea and Billy.
7/01/04
Melissa George is in talks to play a young mother of three that moves
into the house.
6/18/04
Looks like Ryan Reynolds (Blade 3)
is really gettin' into in the horror-game. He's in final negotiations
to star in the flick.
5/27/04
Despite the fact that the movie is set to shoot next month, no cast
has been announced until now. I've added 8-year-old star Jimmy Bennett
to the cast as "Chris Lutz," the trouble-making middle child
in the "Amityville" family. Originally they were eyeing Cameron
Bright (Godsend, Ultraviolet)
to play the role, but he passed on the project.
4/21/04
Dark
Horizons is reporting that Andrew Douglas is set to direct with
a June start date.
3/16/04
The guys at Entertainment Rewired got a hold of George Lutz who's working
a little with the producers to create a more accurate telling of the
story. You can check the interview here,
where he reveals where the project is at and what we may expect.
2/24/04
Fango writer Sarah Walker got a chance to talk with scripter Scott Kosar
about this remake. Kosar was quoted saying...
"I remember when
I saw AMITYVILLE in the theaters, it was all the rage. It’s really
bizarre how in our childhood recollections the movie is absolutely terrifying.
Looking back, there were certain moments that were memorable, but here
we are 25 years later and we need to reinvent things. Whereas CHAINSAW
was intimidating in that I didn’t think there was any way to improve
upon the original, there’s plenty of room for improvement with
AMITYVILLE."
He then went on to talk a little about
the theme of the movie... "I personally believe
the whole story of Amityville came into existence because of the success
of THE EXORCIST and THE OMEN. I’m not saying that the Lutzes’
story didn’t happen—I’ll leave that for someone else
to decide. But I know Hollywood and the publishers saw a market for
that story, and I don’t think it would have happened had THE EXORCIST
not been what it was."
Although things are kept under wraps,
Fango was lucky enough to get some tidbits from Kosar... "Although
I wouldn’t call it the most faithful remake, I can say that we
are being more faithful to the book than the film. But it’s being
reinvented in a way that will make it feel more contemporary. Platinum
Dunes, MGM and Dimension—there are a lot of people involved and
a lot of excitement. As was the case with CHAINSAW, we want to keep
the lid on things as much as possible so there’s some anticipation
and surprise. We don’t want to show our cards too soon. But I can
say that I think we’re making a better movie than the first one."
2/20/04
Scott Kosar (TCM remake) has been set to write the script. Producer
Michael Bay was quoted saying... "Our version
of 'The Amityville Horror' will be based squarely on the original film
that covered the 28 days that one family spent in this famous house.
It is not a slasher film and is certainly more cerebral than 'Texas
Chainsaw Massacre,' but we found Scott to be very good at knowing signature
moments from an original film, and how to change it enough to feel fresh."
1/23/04
The release date has been pushed back to early next year and the title
has been shortened.
12/17/03
It seems like Dimension Films decided to team up with the guys at MGM
and will only be putting out one Amityville movie. MGM will handle domestic
distribution, while Dimension handles overseas distribution. Also, if
a sequel is going to happen, Dimension is going to do it.
11/08/03
A release date has been set.
DETAILS
- Filming near Fox Lake, Illinois.
- Production is set to begin May or June.
- The original title was The Amityville Horror.
- Dimension films will handle the sequel if one is made.
- MGM is handling domestic distribution, while Dimension films handles
overseas distribution.
- In 1974 in a house in Amityville, N.Y., Ronald DeFeo murdered his
parents and four siblings while they slept. What made the house infamous
was a 1977 account written by Jay Anson that claimed the family who
bought the house after the DeFeos' demise was tormented by a series
of bizarre and bloody supernatural events.
- Emmett/Furla Films, Barstu Productions and Integrated Films and Management
will produce.
- Based on the book and the original film.
