US (1979): Horror

"Just keeping telling yourself: IT'S ONLY A MOVIE...IT'S ONLY A MOVIE...IT'S ONLY A MOVIE..." was the ad campaign for this 1979 shocker. The film was based on the allegedly true story of the luckless Lutz family, who move lock, stock, and barrel into a new Long Island home, only to find that it is possessed by the demonic spirits of its previous owners. Variations of the Seven Deadly Plagues emanate from virtually every household fixture, while other forms of otherworldly mischief are suffered by the Lutz children. Enter kindly Father Delaney (Rod Steiger) who does his utmost to exorcise the house. The Amityville Horror was frequently greeted with laughs from its first-run audiences, especially after it was discovered that the "actual" events depicted in the film (based on a book by Jay Anson) were complete fabrications. Nonetheless, the film has grossed over $86 million. Stuart Rosenberg directs for American International Pictures. The cast also features Margot Kidder, James Brolin, Don Stroud, Murray Hamilton and John Larch. (Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide)

 View the theatrical trailer for this film on YouTube.com.

1 nomination