Rated R for violence, disturbing images, language, brief sexuality and drug use.
90 Minutes
Directed By: Andrew Douglas
Written By:Scott Kosar
Based On The Novel By: Jay Anson
Staring:Ryan Reynolds, Melissa George, Jesse James, Jimmy Bennett, Chloe Moretz, Philip Baker Hall, and Isabel Connor
Synopsis
A true story adapted for entertainment about a real family’s terror in a house under suspicion of a haunting in the town of Amityville.
Review
Remakes of this nature are usually unnecessary unless the original version failed, or the new has something really important to offer. I’m not sure the newest interpretation of “The Amityville Horror” really had any of those qualities but it was interesting enough.
Visually the house and it’s eerie atmosphere was conveyed very well. There were moments the house actually felt alive, and suspenseful beats that made the transition seem plausible. The only aspect I didn’t buy was how long the family did last in the house. After the first two events me and my family would have been out the door and not looking back. There was never a logical explanation for why they stayed for so long, and the building suspense of the film wasn’t distracting enough to ignore the fact.
Ryan Reynolds has truly began to establish himself as a credible actor, a credible actor with Brad Fight Club style abs. Throughout the majority of his wandering threw the tormented house Reynolds is shirtless, and while this is lovely eye candy for us ladies, the sex symbol aspect actually distracted from the scary of the movie at points. Reynolds partner Melissa George showed definite signs of being more than a pretty face onscreen, and played the confused and non believing wife in what was a very authenic display.
All in all this version of the Amityville Horror didn’t bring too much new to the table. It was a respectable remake with some pretty intense visuals, and nice performances by Reynolds and George. It was them who kept the interest of the story building since everyone knows how it ends anyway. Regardless, the strange infatuation with the stories behind Amittyville will draw people to this movie for years, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see yet another version down the road. In the end, it was just ok.
