Lazy Day

Well, yeseterday was lazy day. Once again it was raining the only thing I really did that was productive was write 6 pages of a screenplay and drink alot of tea.
Also - I don't know of it is productive but I managed to get through a few more DVD's
So here goes.

The Amityville Horror (1979)


I have never ever thought of wathcing this film but have heard alot about it over the years. My wife suggested we watch it. She is currently watching the remake (which I am pasing on)

The Amityville Horror" is a typical haunted house movie with the 'based on a true story' claim branded on it, which may be the largest reason for it's success. The film features young newlyweds who decide to buy a grand Old colonial house in Amityville,New York.
They are aware that a year earlier, the savage murder of an entire family took place in the house, but they try to push that aside and make the house their own.
After moving in, strange things begin to happen, and George (James Brolin) becomes increasingly violent with both Kathy and her children, and the evil spirits dwelling within the house begins to take over George's mind - driving him insane. The terrified family ends up fleeing their house after only spending twenty-eight days there.
"The Amityville Horror" is a slightly above-average (but really not by that much) haunted house film. I've heard people claim this film to be one of the horror greats, but in all honesty, I just didn't find this film to be anything quite so mind-blowing.
It isn't all bad though, it has some redeeming qualities. There is a handful of really spooky and memorable scenes and some nice cinematography and the score , while being a tad cliche is still scary in the requesite places.

The acting in the film is now in this day and age of Daniel Day Lewis' a bit silly to watch. James Brolin's performance becomes a little stupid during his "descent into madness" and is very clearly overacting in quite a large amount of the movie. Margot Kidder does this as well, shouting her lines quite often, but I liked her performance better. Rod Steiger plays the role of the priest rather well, probably turning in the best performance of the film.

Overall, "The Amityville Horror" has it's flaws. It's a decent haunted house film, and it's a "classic" by popularity. If the film wasn't supposedly based on actual events, I don't think that it would have received the hype or status that it did.