The Amityville Horror
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) | Release Date: April 15, 2005
7.9
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 231 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
161
Mixed:
44
Negative:
26
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
2
ZiphonNov 2, 2016
Pretty good but not as good as Garfield 2: Tale of Two Kitties.Pretty good but not as good as Garfield 2: Tale of Two Kitties. 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000/10… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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1
JacobparkerMay 20, 2013
Just shocks after shocks.
It's not scary, no it really isn't.
Every 5 minutes you'll get a heartattack. The story is dumb.
Not an example for a good horror movie!
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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3
KearaM.Mar 2, 2007
The acting was somewhat good but the book is where the entertainment is. I was unimpressed with the scare factor of the movie but the book was one of the scariest I have ever read. Also, to some people who didn't get the events that The acting was somewhat good but the book is where the entertainment is. I was unimpressed with the scare factor of the movie but the book was one of the scariest I have ever read. Also, to some people who didn't get the events that happened in the movie (such as flies coming out of the vent) read the book and it will make much more sense. The film was decent and some of the facts appeared to be somewhat accurate but it was nearly 100% commercialized and nothing more.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
AndyW.Nov 20, 2005
There are many questions that needed to be asked when you finish watching this movie. Like why is their dog named Hairy? They could've named it Lassie, except it wouldn't have made a big deal, seeing how the dog did absolutely There are many questions that needed to be asked when you finish watching this movie. Like why is their dog named Hairy? They could've named it Lassie, except it wouldn't have made a big deal, seeing how the dog did absolutely nothing in the entire movie. How come a whole swarm flies just fly out of the vent in the movie, when it has absolutely nothing to do with the plot what so ever? Why is Ryan Reynolds such a bad actor in this movie? Why is the lead actress sooo hot, and is the only one that puts out an outstanding performance in this movie? It's really puzzling to me, why I wasted just over an hour watching this movie.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
jimmytancrediMay 29, 2011
Movie haunted mansion coolest I've ever seen, even that could be used a little more home to more herror, but it's still a movie that puts fear. I wouldn't put my feet in this house.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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2
SpangleOct 10, 2016
Oh wow. After watching the original right before this being left thinking it was an alright film, this 2005 remake made the original look like the best film of all-time. Obviously as a remake, it is unoriginal. Yet, it decided to takeOh wow. After watching the original right before this being left thinking it was an alright film, this 2005 remake made the original look like the best film of all-time. Obviously as a remake, it is unoriginal. Yet, it decided to take everything that worked in the original: the pacing, the menacing scares, and the mystery, and just remove it. Everything good in the original is gone. In its place is a formulaic modern day horror movie with Ryan Reynolds' abs, Melissa George's side boob, and Rachel Nichols as the sluttiest babysitter of all-time. Clearly, far more attention was paid to attracting teenagers (both girls and boys), rather than making this film at all scary.

With jump scares coming fast and furious, The Amityville Horror refuses to try and be original, though its major strength is expanding on the history of the house. The original had good elements, but I did like that this one took it further. It also had other nice touches like the doll, which was certainly scary. That said, every other addition was poor at best. The additions largely are just gore effects, the aforementioned jump scares, and showing you what the original kept hidden. The best trick a horror film can pull is to try and convince the viewer that the scary elements are not there. That it is just a noise. Once it does this, it can truly shock you and leave you shaking. This film, however, is convinced you must see dead bodies with weirdo jump cuts in order to get the point. Director Andrew Douglas clearly does not understand what works about horror movies. There was a lot to improve upon from the original, but yet, Douglas found a way to infuse it with modern horror elements that leave you scratching your head and trying to watch the original instead.

The Amityville Horror is a film that takes no time at all to jump right into the "scary elements". Rather, it decides from the very beginning that it is best to try and make the audience jump. Yet, horror films must earn their scares through atmosphere. Douglas apparently feels the need to try and shorthand this atmosphere by just showing you creepy looking dead girls and a scene with a Ryan Reynolds lookalike (i.e. Ryan Reynolds) killing his whole family. These moments, though jarringly dumb, do not scare. Even worse, they do not create an atmosphere. As if realizing this, Douglas thinks adding some more CGI demons and scenes of child abuse will assist the film in becoming creepy. Strike two. Next up, Douglas decided the ending of the original was fine, but just needed some alterations. Here, we could definitely add a weirdly placed dream sequence with Reynolds slinging an axe into Melissa George's abdomen only to instead have her almost kill him. But yay, she cannot pull the trigger and Reynolds is saved from the house! Woohoo! If only Melissa George could have pointed the gun at my head and pulled the trigger. It would have been far more rewarding.

The Amityville Horror is schlock horror at its very finest. It is devoid of scares or atmosphere. If you want to watch Ryan Reynolds's abs act in a supporting role (he is actually shirtless for maybe, like, 50 minutes of this movie), then this is the movie for you. If you want to be entertained and scared, then maybe try a different horror movie.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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1
oDjentoApr 18, 2015
Oh my god this film was awful. With acting that is painful to watch, a totally miscast Ryan Reynolds and literally almost not interesting or effective scares this film dies almost from the very start. I sat laughing my ass off for theOh my god this film was awful. With acting that is painful to watch, a totally miscast Ryan Reynolds and literally almost not interesting or effective scares this film dies almost from the very start. I sat laughing my ass off for the majority of this movie as it was so awful (in direction, acting, dialogue and scares) that i couldn't wait till the end, which by the way absolutely sucks! One of the worst horror movies i've ever watched. Should put it on as a comedy to watch with your girlfriend, at least then you'll get a few laughs out of it! Other than that, do not waste your time on this trash!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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3
horcrux2007Jan 9, 2015
As far as remakes go, this is one of the rare ones that rivals its predecessor in quality. In this case, they're both about as mediocre and moronic, but this one is even worse. The one or two scenes in the original that scared me whereAs far as remakes go, this is one of the rare ones that rivals its predecessor in quality. In this case, they're both about as mediocre and moronic, but this one is even worse. The one or two scenes in the original that scared me where completely ruined by predictable jump scares, which the film relies on a lot, as well as bad special effects. The remake significantly toned-down the priest character, and that's both a good thing and a bad thing. A good thing because I hated his character in the original, but a bad thing because he's even more unnecessary since he only appears in two scenes. Even if you enjoyed the original, I don't recommend this one at all.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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1
DragondustsSep 21, 2014
It just seem like I have been watching a lots of promising low budget horror movies lately and this one ended up being a bust...The acting was terrible, editing and story line is average at best. I haven't jumped or getting scared once duringIt just seem like I have been watching a lots of promising low budget horror movies lately and this one ended up being a bust...The acting was terrible, editing and story line is average at best. I haven't jumped or getting scared once during the entire movie, the ending is so predictable. Overall there is nothing great to say about this movie, just another waste of time.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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3
JPKDec 22, 2019
Completely Unnecessary
Like most horror remakes of the 2000’s, The Amnityville Horror is a remake that doesn’t earn its existence with a poorly written script and sloppy scares.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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3
humunguschungusApr 16, 2019
Gone is the subtly of the 1979 classic, Now we have a film that attempts to be nightmare fuel with nothing but excessive jump scares. Quite possibly one of the worst remakes/reboots of all time.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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