My Amityville Horror (2012) Review

There cannot be many, reading this review, that are unfamiliar with the alleged haunting that occurred at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville in 1975. I imagine that they would also be familiar with that for subsequent years there has been speculation that the spooky tale was nothing more than a yarn spun by the family, especially parents George and Kathleen Lutz, to make money.

Documentary My Amityville Horror makes for a deeply unsettling experience, more chilling than the original 1979 Stuart Rosenberg shocker dared to be in its cheap, almost made-for-TV way. This is partly because it concerns itself mainly with Daniel Lutz, facially reminding one of actor Ed Harris, who, for the first time in thirty-five years, recounts his version of events. Daniel is a man who looks prone to sudden aggressive outbursts, not dissimilar to those he condones his late stepfather George for.

Daniel appears to use anger as a control mechanism, especially here when asked if he’d undergo a lie detector test. He doesn’t initially answer the enquiry, instead he recounts a list of those, including his ex-wife, that asked him the same question. The inference would appear to be ‘back off or you’ll be yesterday’s news too’. Daniel then appears to threaten the person asking the question, growling that he would be having words with him later. The constant undercurrent of aggression in Daniel makes My Amityville Horror a tense watch.

The documentary extensively covers all sides of the argument in relation to whether the haunting was real, what had caused the haunting and whether Daniel, or Danny as he prefers to be called, was confused by the subsequent film franchise as to his memory of what happened there. Much of the time he seems to have an issue with his mother taking to bed with another man, who also allegedly dabbled in the black arts and was telekinetic.

My Amityville Horror is infinitely more chilling and absorbing than any of the subsequent movies that resulted from this alleged haunting, perhaps with the exception of the disturbing Amityville II: The Possession. There’s no denying that Daniel carries psychological scars, but as to what is fiction or what is real feels blurred. The film isn’t looking to answer the big questions, as to whether it was a hoax or not, but to uncover more of what may have REALLY happened at the infamous address.

Documentary film-maker Eric Walter brings viewers up to speed with the events that took place prior to the Lutz’s arrival at the property and those that allegedly followed. Walter also brings in past investigative reporters, including Lorraine Warren, who’s other haunting casebook was the subject of the thrilling The Conjuring. Warren explains that the reason that no subsequent hauntings have occurred at the location is because she had cleansed it – makes sense.

Whether you believe the haunting to be a hoax or otherwise, or frankly don’t even care, please check out this fascinating documentary as the tightly coiled Daniel Lutz makes for compelling viewing. He looks troubled, seething with barely concealed anger as he refers back to the haunting, ‘a gift’ that he never asked for. There are no answers but plenty more fuel to add to the ongoing debate and let’s face it, we’ll never really know.