The Amityville Horror (1979)
The Movie Says: A family moves into a home that had been the site of a grisly mass murder, and soon realize the house is incredibly haunted. The movie is based on the bestselling 'non-fiction' book.
In Real Life: After the previous inhabitants of a certain Amityville house were murdered, the Lutz family moved in – though they were worried about making the mortgage payments on the $80,000 home (just under half a million dollars today).
The idea of writing a book about the house being 'haunted' post-murder was actually proposed by the killer's lawyer, who thought it would make a pile of cash.
Long story short: the book got published and sold 11 million copies, the Lutzes got rich off of their lie, and nobody else who lived in the house ever experienced paranormal activity. So 'The Amityville Horror' isn't based on a true story so much...
The Movie Says: A family moves into a home that had been the site of a grisly mass murder, and soon realize the house is incredibly haunted. The movie is based on the bestselling 'non-fiction' book.
In Real Life: After the previous inhabitants of a certain Amityville house were murdered, the Lutz family moved in – though they were worried about making the mortgage payments on the $80,000 home (just under half a million dollars today).
The idea of writing a book about the house being 'haunted' post-murder was actually proposed by the killer's lawyer, who thought it would make a pile of cash.
Long story short: the book got published and sold 11 million copies, the Lutzes got rich off of their lie, and nobody else who lived in the house ever experienced paranormal activity. So 'The Amityville Horror' isn't based on a true story so much...
- 4/28/2024
- by louise.everitt@startefacts.com (Louise Everitt)
- STartefacts.com
"The Amityville Horror" is one of the definitive haunted house films, a classic tale about paranormal activity terrorizing a suburban family with swarming flies, mysterious voices, and sudden illness. Even the windows resemble ominous eyes peering down on the unsuspecting victims. The movie taps into the religious undertones popularized by other 1970s releases such as "The Exorcist" and "The Omen," suggesting there is a Satanic force at work that must be destroyed.
Eventually, the new owners George and Kathy Lutz discover the horrifying history of their new home: Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his entire family with a rifle one year prior, a Satanic worshipper named John Ketchum once lived on the land, and the house itself was built on a Shinnecock burial ground.
Despite receiving mixed reviews for elements like the cheesy portrayal of a possessed George, "The Amityville Horror" ended up having a significant impact on the horror genre.
Eventually, the new owners George and Kathy Lutz discover the horrifying history of their new home: Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his entire family with a rifle one year prior, a Satanic worshipper named John Ketchum once lived on the land, and the house itself was built on a Shinnecock burial ground.
Despite receiving mixed reviews for elements like the cheesy portrayal of a possessed George, "The Amityville Horror" ended up having a significant impact on the horror genre.
- 11/19/2023
- by Caroline Madden
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Writer, director Todd Turner’s film The December Cross starring Jennifer Esposito (Fresh Kills), Kellan Lutz (Twilight), Judd Hirsch (The Fablemans), Grace Van Dien (Stranger Things), Neal McDonough (Minority Report), Mila Harris (No Exit), and Stelio Savante (Infidel), has landed a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement to start principal photography in Kentucky.
The film is set in a town called Bethlehem, where border agents have just intercepted a coyote smuggling in a group of tired, desperate, and frightened refugees. There, an 11-year-old girl runs into a 7-year-old boy, Yosef, seeking refuge. Maya and Yosef become fast friends, and their ensuing adventure nearly kills them both but ends up warming the hearts of the townspeople with life lessons stretching far beyond their own borders.
Archstone Entertainment is securing world sales rights with Joshua Harris of Gala Media Capital Financing. Turner also serves as producer through Wonderstruck, alongside Gabrielle Almagor for...
The film is set in a town called Bethlehem, where border agents have just intercepted a coyote smuggling in a group of tired, desperate, and frightened refugees. There, an 11-year-old girl runs into a 7-year-old boy, Yosef, seeking refuge. Maya and Yosef become fast friends, and their ensuing adventure nearly kills them both but ends up warming the hearts of the townspeople with life lessons stretching far beyond their own borders.
Archstone Entertainment is securing world sales rights with Joshua Harris of Gala Media Capital Financing. Turner also serves as producer through Wonderstruck, alongside Gabrielle Almagor for...
- 11/3/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
This article contains spoilers for "Chucky" season 3, episode 3.
Alien vs. Predator. Freddy vs. Jason. Sadako vs. Kayako. Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash."
Throughout horror genre history, there have been numerous examples of characters crossing over into one another's universes, continuity, and canon. While cinematic universes featuring characters from other genres are all the rage these days (especially with regard to action and comic book superheroes), there remains something special about the horror crossover.
For one thing, horror was the first genre to birth a cinematic universe long before it became a buzzworthy term, thanks to Universal Pictures' "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man" in 1943. For another, a horror crossover typically isn't like a Marvel Cinematic Universe film, where heroes from their own separate franchises team up to hang out, crack wise, and eventually take on a doomsday villain. Instead, it's all about the thematic weight of not one, but two...
Alien vs. Predator. Freddy vs. Jason. Sadako vs. Kayako. Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash."
Throughout horror genre history, there have been numerous examples of characters crossing over into one another's universes, continuity, and canon. While cinematic universes featuring characters from other genres are all the rage these days (especially with regard to action and comic book superheroes), there remains something special about the horror crossover.
For one thing, horror was the first genre to birth a cinematic universe long before it became a buzzworthy term, thanks to Universal Pictures' "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man" in 1943. For another, a horror crossover typically isn't like a Marvel Cinematic Universe film, where heroes from their own separate franchises team up to hang out, crack wise, and eventually take on a doomsday villain. Instead, it's all about the thematic weight of not one, but two...
- 10/19/2023
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
From left: Lili Taylor in The Conjuring (New Line Cinema), Vivien Leigh in Psycho (Universal), Drew Barrymore in Scream (Dimension)Graphic: The A.V. Club
The only thing scarier than the horror movies Hollywood makes are the real-life stories that inspire them. For decades, horror films have thrived by using the...
The only thing scarier than the horror movies Hollywood makes are the real-life stories that inspire them. For decades, horror films have thrived by using the...
- 10/9/2023
- by Phil Pirrello
- avclub.com
In the murky realms of Grant Singer’s Reptile, audiences delve into a tale woven with intrigue, and mystery. Penned by Singer, Benjamin Brewer and Benicio Del Toro, the film attempts to entangle the viewer in a web of murder and corruption, manifesting through the gritty lens of a small-town investigation. Del Toro is flanked by supporting actors including Alicia Silverstone, Michael Pitt, Ato Essandoh, Justin Timberlake, Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Eric Bogosian and Domenick Lombardozzi,. However, the atmospheric tension conjured by the film echoes of potential left unexplored, marking it as a journey through familiar terrain desperately grasping for an identity of its own.
Tom Nichols (Del Toro), a detective who moves from Philly to a small town to take a detective job after his wife, Judy (Silverstone), and her ailing uncle arranges for Tom to take the position. Immediately, he is assigned to investigate the brutal murder of...
Tom Nichols (Del Toro), a detective who moves from Philly to a small town to take a detective job after his wife, Judy (Silverstone), and her ailing uncle arranges for Tom to take the position. Immediately, he is assigned to investigate the brutal murder of...
- 9/29/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Canadian filmmaker Director X is revealing how his new Global original series, “Robyn Hood”, came about.
Director X — whose real name is Julien Christian Lutz — chatted to Et Canada’s Brittnee Blair ahead of the show’s premiere next month.
The show “follows Robyn Loxley and anti-authoritarian masked hip-hop band, The Hood, as they call out injustices and fight for freedom and equality in the city of New Nottingham.”
Read More: Global Announces Fall 2023 Premiere Dates For ‘Survivor’, ‘Robyn Hood’, ‘Yellowstone’ & More
The eight-episode, one-hour series stars an up-and-coming cast featuring Jessye Romeo, Nykeem Provo, Idrissa Sanogo Bamba, Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, Jonathan Langdon, Sydney Kuhne, Ian Matthews, Kira Guloien, Manuel Rodriguez-Saenz and Lisa Michelle Cornelius.
Lutz said of what it was about this project that made him want to take it on: “I mean, it was an idea. I was in London shooting a music video, and it just kind of hit me like,...
Director X — whose real name is Julien Christian Lutz — chatted to Et Canada’s Brittnee Blair ahead of the show’s premiere next month.
The show “follows Robyn Loxley and anti-authoritarian masked hip-hop band, The Hood, as they call out injustices and fight for freedom and equality in the city of New Nottingham.”
Read More: Global Announces Fall 2023 Premiere Dates For ‘Survivor’, ‘Robyn Hood’, ‘Yellowstone’ & More
The eight-episode, one-hour series stars an up-and-coming cast featuring Jessye Romeo, Nykeem Provo, Idrissa Sanogo Bamba, Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, Jonathan Langdon, Sydney Kuhne, Ian Matthews, Kira Guloien, Manuel Rodriguez-Saenz and Lisa Michelle Cornelius.
Lutz said of what it was about this project that made him want to take it on: “I mean, it was an idea. I was in London shooting a music video, and it just kind of hit me like,...
- 8/28/2023
- by Becca Longmire
- ET Canada
Series regular Alexa Davalos will not be returning for Season 5 of CBS’ “FBI: Most Wanted,” Variety has confirmed.
Hailing from Dick Wolf, “FBI: Most Wanted” focuses on the Fugitive Task Force, an elite unit that relentlessly pursues and captures the notorious criminals on the Bureau’s Most Wanted list. David Hudgins and Todd Arnow executive produce.
Davalos joined the series at the beginning of Season 3, playing the role of Kristin Gaines, a member of the FBI’s Fugitive Task Force and a former Naval Intelligence Officer. Her character’s exit joins the short list of cast shakeups that have taken place on the Wolf Entertainment show. Davalos’ character originally joined the team after Kellan Lutz, another series regular, exited the series. Lutz played Kenny Crosby, who was written off the show in the Season 3 premiere. In addition to Lutz, former team leader Jess Lacroix (Julian McMahon), also departed the series...
Hailing from Dick Wolf, “FBI: Most Wanted” focuses on the Fugitive Task Force, an elite unit that relentlessly pursues and captures the notorious criminals on the Bureau’s Most Wanted list. David Hudgins and Todd Arnow executive produce.
Davalos joined the series at the beginning of Season 3, playing the role of Kristin Gaines, a member of the FBI’s Fugitive Task Force and a former Naval Intelligence Officer. Her character’s exit joins the short list of cast shakeups that have taken place on the Wolf Entertainment show. Davalos’ character originally joined the team after Kellan Lutz, another series regular, exited the series. Lutz played Kenny Crosby, who was written off the show in the Season 3 premiere. In addition to Lutz, former team leader Jess Lacroix (Julian McMahon), also departed the series...
- 8/8/2023
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
Saban Films has acquired the rights to Art Camacho’s action thriller “Ruthless” starring Dermot Mulroney and Javier Reyna’s “Palido” starring Kellan Lutz.
Saban will distribute the titles throughout North America, the United Kingdom, Germany, Benelux and Australia. Jonathan Saba, Cco of Saban Films, negotiated the deal with Devin Carter, SVP of sales at Premiere Entertainment.
“Ruthless” follows a high school coach (Mulroney) who takes matters into his own hands by going after the men who kidnap his female student for their human trafficking operation, according to a snyopsis.
In addition to Mulroney, “Ruthless” also stars Jeff Fahey. Reyna, James Dean Simington and Camacho penned the film, while Elias Axume, Al Bravo, HemDee Kiwanuka and Camacho produced the film.
“Palido” follows an attorney (Lutz) with a military past, who focuses on finding and killing the gang that murdered his wife and kidnapped his daughter.
Fahey also stars in “Palido,...
Saban will distribute the titles throughout North America, the United Kingdom, Germany, Benelux and Australia. Jonathan Saba, Cco of Saban Films, negotiated the deal with Devin Carter, SVP of sales at Premiere Entertainment.
“Ruthless” follows a high school coach (Mulroney) who takes matters into his own hands by going after the men who kidnap his female student for their human trafficking operation, according to a snyopsis.
In addition to Mulroney, “Ruthless” also stars Jeff Fahey. Reyna, James Dean Simington and Camacho penned the film, while Elias Axume, Al Bravo, HemDee Kiwanuka and Camacho produced the film.
“Palido” follows an attorney (Lutz) with a military past, who focuses on finding and killing the gang that murdered his wife and kidnapped his daughter.
Fahey also stars in “Palido,...
- 6/22/2023
- by Charna Flam
- Variety Film + TV
Explore the terrifying world where fact meets fiction as we delve into spine-chilling horror movies based on true stories. Horror has always been a captivating form of entertainment, but there's an extra layer of terror when the horrors depicted on the screen are rooted in real-life events. In this spine-chilling article, we dive into the nightmarish realm where fact meets fiction, exploring eight bone-chilling horror films that draw inspiration from true stories.
Prepare to discover the chilling tales behind these movies and the real-life horrors that influenced them. From demonic possessions to infamous murderers, these films blur the line between fiction and reality, providing a hair-raising experience for horror enthusiasts.
Warner Bros.
Regarded as one of the scariest films of all time, The Exorcist is based on the chilling real-life exorcism case of a young boy known as Roland Doe. The film follows the demonic possession and subsequent exorcism of a young girl named Regan.
Prepare to discover the chilling tales behind these movies and the real-life horrors that influenced them. From demonic possessions to infamous murderers, these films blur the line between fiction and reality, providing a hair-raising experience for horror enthusiasts.
Warner Bros.
Regarded as one of the scariest films of all time, The Exorcist is based on the chilling real-life exorcism case of a young boy known as Roland Doe. The film follows the demonic possession and subsequent exorcism of a young girl named Regan.
- 6/14/2023
- by Kimberley Elizabeth
Exclusive: Kellan Lutz (Twilight), Neal McDonough (Minority Report), and Mila Harris (No Exit) have signed on to star in The December Cross, with Archstone Entertainment securing world sales rights and Joshua Harris and Jon Gosier of FilmHedge financing.
Todd Turner (Good Neighbor) wrote and will direct the film. Turner will also serve as producer through Wonderstruck, alongside Gabrielle Almagor for Urban Tales Productions and Michael Slifkin, Scott Martin, and Jack Sheehan of Archstone. Principal photography is scheduled to start September 2023 in Massachusetts. The cast is rounded out by Stelio Savante and Jennifer Esposito.
The pic is set in a town called Bethlehem, where border agents have just intercepted a coyote smuggling in a group of tired, desperate, and frightened refugees. There, an 11-year-old girl runs into a 7-year-old boy, Yosef, seeking refuge. Maya and Yosef become fast friends, and their ensuing adventure nearly kills them both but ends up warming...
Todd Turner (Good Neighbor) wrote and will direct the film. Turner will also serve as producer through Wonderstruck, alongside Gabrielle Almagor for Urban Tales Productions and Michael Slifkin, Scott Martin, and Jack Sheehan of Archstone. Principal photography is scheduled to start September 2023 in Massachusetts. The cast is rounded out by Stelio Savante and Jennifer Esposito.
The pic is set in a town called Bethlehem, where border agents have just intercepted a coyote smuggling in a group of tired, desperate, and frightened refugees. There, an 11-year-old girl runs into a 7-year-old boy, Yosef, seeking refuge. Maya and Yosef become fast friends, and their ensuing adventure nearly kills them both but ends up warming...
- 5/18/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
‘The Amityville Horror’ – Classic Novel Gets a Stunning Limited Edition Release from Suntup Editions
Suntup Editions has put up for grabs a signed limited edition of The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson, the latest offering from the prestige company that frequently revives classic horror novels with absolutely gorgeous books to die for. This one is no exception.
The edition includes an exclusive new introduction by Laura Didio, the first local reporter to cover the story, featuring her own startling and true account of what she and her crew experienced upon visiting the house after the Lutz’s fled, as well as an exclusive new afterword providing a wealth of historical context by Eric Walter, the director of the documentary, My Amityville Horror. The edition also features seven brand new illustrations by Brad Gray, and floor plans of the house at 112 Ocean Avenue adapted by Maxime Plasse.
The edition is highly limited with a very low print run, and is now available for pre-order.
A...
The edition includes an exclusive new introduction by Laura Didio, the first local reporter to cover the story, featuring her own startling and true account of what she and her crew experienced upon visiting the house after the Lutz’s fled, as well as an exclusive new afterword providing a wealth of historical context by Eric Walter, the director of the documentary, My Amityville Horror. The edition also features seven brand new illustrations by Brad Gray, and floor plans of the house at 112 Ocean Avenue adapted by Maxime Plasse.
The edition is highly limited with a very low print run, and is now available for pre-order.
A...
- 5/18/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
In the history of homicide and paranormal activity, the Amityville Horror is one of the most scary and gut-wrenching disasters of all time. The four-part MGM+ documentary series Amityville: An Origin Story is a fascinating documentary that revisits the actual account of events that occurred in the haunted mansion of Amityville. The series includes archive material from the 1970s as well as brand-new interviews with those who witnessed the tragedy firsthand. Several books, film franchises, fan fiction, and other media have previously captured the retelling of these terrifying occurrences, the most famous of which is 1979’s The Amityville Horror, which almost everyone is familiar with. Well, listening to real-life victims of those traumatic events is considerably more spine-chilling than the fictional version. Despite being a documentary, Amityville: An Origin Story masterfully depicted that horror for us. Let’s go into the specifics of what transpired at the Amityville residence.
Spoilers...
Spoilers...
- 5/1/2023
- by Poulami Nanda
- Film Fugitives
Director X knows a thing or two about music videos. From working under Hype Williams on the set of the 1998 classic movie “Belly,” to directing music videos for hip-hop heavyweights like Kendrick Lamar and Drake, the visual artist — whose real name is Julien Christian Lutz — has been delivering outstanding visuals for three decades and counting.
Today, Lutz’s production company Fela teams up with Insight Production in announcing the launch of a new series dubbed “Video Star.” The show will explore the behind-the-scenes process and cultural impact of the most groundbreaking, innovative music videos dating back to the ’70s. It will additionally spotlight videos of the ’90s (when seven-figure budgets were introduced) leading up to modern-day examples, including some of Director X’s own innovative creations.
“We’ve been talking about doing something that really celebrates the history of music videos and gives this genre of entertainment the credit it...
Today, Lutz’s production company Fela teams up with Insight Production in announcing the launch of a new series dubbed “Video Star.” The show will explore the behind-the-scenes process and cultural impact of the most groundbreaking, innovative music videos dating back to the ’70s. It will additionally spotlight videos of the ’90s (when seven-figure budgets were introduced) leading up to modern-day examples, including some of Director X’s own innovative creations.
“We’ve been talking about doing something that really celebrates the history of music videos and gives this genre of entertainment the credit it...
- 3/30/2023
- by Shirley Ju
- Variety Film + TV
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