It doesn’t take much for horror fans to crave something both old and new, and when someone says Amityville they either get it confused with Jaws [1975], which takes place in Amity, or they tend to roll their eyes, mainly due to the numerous sequels the film spawned and practically destroyed the franchise. The Amityville Murders hit the screen on February 8, 2019, and this year marks the 47th anniversary of the original The Amityville Horror being released, therefore there is no better reason to do a Q&A of this flick. A few things, this article first covers the film from 1979, however it will also include the real backstory, plus other trivia aspects, I’ve taken the time to research numerous books, articles, watched several interviews and even read the crime reports and photos, even extended that to parole board hearing’s transcript. This Question-and-Answer article will reveal details and spoilers galore, so be forewarned.

What is the basis of the plot for The Amityville Horror?

It surrounds the Lutz family, namely George and Kathy (which James Brolin (The Car [1977]) and Margot Kidder (Black Christmas [1974]), respectively portrayed these characters) and their daughter Amy (Natasha Ryan (The Entity [1982])) and sons Matthew (Meeno Peluce (Don’t Go Near the Park [1979])) and Gregory (K.C. Martel (Bloody Birthday [1981])), who all move into an old lakefront Dutch Colonial house in Amityville, Long Island, New York. The sellers stating the house needs love to become a home, they get an awesome deal, but as anyone in real estate knows a great deal comes with great problems and warnings all of them ignored. They learn that the previous owner’s son murdered his entire family, parents and siblings. Soon strange things begin to happen with George becoming obsessed with fire, Amy finds an imaginary friend named Jodie, the children begin to get harmed, as the evil grows in the house.

Who are the actors portraying in the film The Amityville Horror?

They are all portraying the Lutz’ family only the lead actors use the real names of the parents the children did not, therefore, to clarify for children:

K.C. Martell as Gregory represents Daniel

Meeno Peluce as Matthew represents Christopher

Natasha Ryan as Amy represents Missy

Is the movie, The Amityville Horror based on a book?

The movie finds itself taking bits and cues from the novel The Amityville Horror (1977) by author Jay Anson, and then roughly adapted by screenwriter Sandor Stern (Pin [1988]), who took care not to embellish against the source material into making it a scare fest and directed by Stuart Rosenberg. There was a period when the film was discussed to be a made-for-television movie before others changed their minds, one wonders if the TV-movie angle occurred would a franchise exist at all.

Does the movie The Amityville Horror base itself on a real story aside than the book?

Yes, it’s based on the Lutz’ account, but generated a lot of controversy, inconsistent interviews and stories, a few questionable evidence discoveries, and many lawsuits. The Lutz claimed it all happened while witnesses and other facts disagree with the situation, other than the murders (brutally dreadful) nothing else occurred within the walls. When the house got blessed by Father Ray, he stated that the experiences he felt were all very real, and that Kathy and George both passed a polygraph test. The story to this day is a very hotly debatable shouting match between realists and paranormal investigators as well as those interested in the testament of righteous religious beliefs proud to speak out and denounce the devil and his demonic influences.

How could the Lutz pass a polygraph test if the story is a hoax?

If a person genuinely believes a fantasy story and they are basing this on their faith, then it is very possible to beat the machine. This is because the machine measures physiological responses heart rate, blood pressure, if someone perspires. Therefore, if a person holds deep convictions to their faith, they will carry them over to the test and pass it with no sign of deception.

Didn’t the lack of financial resources prompt the tale?

The Lutz’s they were a recently happily married family, Kathleen with three children and the parents use their separate homes selling to purchase the home in 1975 and move in to the dwelling in December according to some accounts at $80,000 (in 2025 nearly over $500k), 13-months after the murders, the large home had plenty of room, a boat garage.

What happened to the real house in the movie, The Amityville Horror?

The original house still stands with a few changes to keep the nosey fans, the address underwent a change, as did the exterior color and the removal of the quarter moon windows, which is a common construction element found in Dutch Colonial homes and sometimes appearing in Victorian and converted barns to homes. In fact, there’s a home less than 150-yards from me that has those same windows.

 

Was the original house used in the film The Amityville Horror?

No, the real house wasn’t used for the film, a few locations in NJ, some suggest Toms River and Point Pleasant area for the exterior shots, in fact a house that many claimed was used has been located, although I’m not listing the address or location as it is a private residence and none of them seek attention. However, in an early trailer version the film showed the actual 112 Ocean Avenue, prompting a lawsuit from then current owners. All the interior shots occurred at MGM studios (which later would own the rights to the film) in Los Angeles, CA.

Rumors state James Brolin wasn’t interested in doing the movie, The Amityville Horror, so what changed his mind?

Many actors often refrain or refuse to do a movie, but then it’s when they read the script or book as the source material they find themselves pulled into the story, which what happened to James, no script existed yet but the book did, in an interview James stated at home he hung up a pair of jeans and while reading the book until about 2am the pants suddenly hit the floor and he jumped and this was what sold him on doing the movie.

How long did the original family stay in The Amityville Horror house?

Just slightly less than a month, 28-days from December 18, 1975 to January 14, 1976. They left their possessions but kept paying for the mortgage.

Was there really a red room as seen in the movie, The Amityville Horror?

Kathy Lutz discovered the room according to the book while stacking canned goods, it was further diagrammed in the book The Amityville Horror Conspiracy by Dr. Stephen Kaplan. In the movie, George’s psychic friend discovers the red room noting they found the well and it’s the passage to hell and cover it (this later becomes true in Amityville 3D [1983]. It is later explained that room was used for devil worship and sacrifices the land where the house sits used by Shinnecock Indians, to bury their dead and abandon the mentally ill. However, according to historical fact, very little is known about the social dynamics of the Shinnecocks, leaving much to folklore and urban legends. One needs to mention that some attributes blame to the Montaukett Indians who use the area to imprison enemies and those possessed by evil spirits, with them left to die and later buried face down.

What about Jodie the pig?

Described by Missy as an angel, taking the name Jodie (spelled Joy in the film) who could take many forms and hence appeared as a piggy for her enjoyment.

Did the walls really bleed in real life as seen in the movie, The Amityville Horror?

No, this didn’t happen, the Lutz’ found a green substance on the carpet in various rooms, they blamed their children who all denied it (as children often do, using the “not me” defense). In the book Anson changed it to a green ooze slime on walls, it’s the movie that changed the entire incident into blood dripping down the walls and over the stairs.

In the movie, The Amityville Horror, why does George awake at 3:15 am?

George, in both the book and movie, awakens around this time, he often awoke between 3 and 3:15am, some connection this to the time of DeFeo murders. However, others point folklore and namely the Witching Hour (while common referring to as the time of 12 midnight to 2am, for a period it was considered at 2 to 4 am, when witches, demons and ghost roamed freely, and in the early 1830s if a woman is found outside of the home at that house without sufficient reason, they could be executed on suspicion of witchcraft. Although, another reasoning for this time, it’s the inverse time when Christ did, according to Mark’s Gospel the crucifixion lasted six hours translating the time from 9am of the start to 3pm, the inversing represent the Devil’s time.

Did the Lutz’ ever return to the Amityville Horror house?

It is rumored they did briefly for clothing and very personal items, however some point to a garage sale held and later an auctioneer aided in selling the furniture and other household items.

Was George Lutz an abusive man who dabbled in the occult?

There are a lot of conjectures on this topic. First, in the seventies many families had still used a more corporal from of punishment, belts and wooden spoon spankings were not uncommon. Secondly, as the occult aspect this layered in rumors, when weird things happen some people in society point to ludicrous distractions to explain something. As for the Ouija board it dates back to 1890s therefore for it to exist inside the home would not be shocking.

Is the house from the film, the Amityville Horror, still empty or haunted?

No to both, the Cromarty ‘s bought the house on March 18, 1977, 14-months after the Lutz’ and bank ownership for $55,000 ($25k less than Lutz paid for it) then 10-years later the O’Neil’s purchased it for $325k, and 10-years past and Wilson’s and even later D’Antonio’s with the pricing rising to nearly $1-million.  In fact, prior to the DeFeo’s the home had at least three previous owners dating back to 1924.

Is the movie The Amityville Horror about ghosts or something else?

First, no actual ghosts exist in the movie, none are shown, all that is lent to the unforeseen evil forces. The movie appears to center itself around the evils of money, if you really think about, the debt of a mortgage, the costs of fixing up a house, where everything is sucking the life and soul, draining the bank account. The homeowner’s business is having problems, bills piling up, collection calls, and numerous other expenses. In one scene the money for a caterer goes missing the house loves tormenting one on the grounds on money and debt. Even the caterer goes on a rant over money, many references to cash flow perhaps in hindsight a reference to the production houses, the numerous buyouts and mergers that occurred after the film got released. The issue about the money angle presented by Stephen King which I agree with on many levels.

What were the production/distribution studio problems associated with the film, The Amityville Horror?

Well, this movie proved to become the last major film for the American International Pictures, by the late 70s they found themselves in major financial ruins, by trying to keep up with the Jones, in other words rather than keeping some maintainable budgets they kept trying to strive for the Big Money Film. This devilish movie could not save them and doom partnership with Filmways crushed them, and swallowed by Orion, which then gobbled up by MGM and existed mainly licensing rights.

What problems do the fans often cite with the movie, The Amityville Horror?

The devilish influence extends through the phone calls to the priests, making them not be able to work properly and then there were the vehicles which were caused by outside forces. In addition, a few references to clergy but none of them truly having the courage or patience to battle the evil until it’s far too late. Although, the real priest stated he did encounter static over the phone when calling the Lutz family.

Lastly, the numerous shots of the house and glowing window eyes regardless of daylight or nighttime, were always on, never just slowly turning on, a constant on position. Curious viewers many point to why did the costume department dressed Kathy in an adult version of a catholic schoolgirl, the pleated checked skirts especially worn when the priest and mysterious nun arrived. Lastly, the silly return to the house for the family dog and keys, it’s the common one last scare in a movie (this isn’t in the book) but the dog first attacks George and later helps in oozing the black sludge.

How many sequels did the movie, The Amityville Horror, spawn?

There are 8 direct sequels and one remake

Amityville II: The Possession (1982)

Amityville 3-D (1983)

Amityville Horror: The Evil Escapes (TV Movie 1989)

The Amityville Curse (Video 1990)

Amityville 1992: It’s About Time (Video 1992)

Amityville: A New Generation (Video 1993)

Amityville Dollhouse (Video 1996)

The Amityville Horror (2005)

Amityville: The Awakening (2017)

 

However, the word ‘Amityville’ spawned many other movies, often the cover art shows the legendary house and the glowing quarter moon windows as eyes:

The Amityville Haunting (2011)

The Amityville Asylum (2013)

Amityville Death House (2015)

The Amityville Playhouse (2015)

Amityville: No Escape (2016)

Amityville: Vanishing Point (2016)

The Amityville Legacy (2016)

The Amityville Terror (2016)

Amityville Prison (2017)

Amityville: The Awakening (2017)

Amityville: Evil Never Dies (2017)

Amityville Exorcism (2017)

The Amityville Murders (2018)

The Amityville Harvest (2020)

Amityville: Where the Echo Lives (2024)

Amityvillenado (2025)

 

Then there’s the documentaries The Real Amityville Horror (2005), Shattered Hopes (2011), and My Amityville Horror (2012).

 

See Part 2 of The Amityville Horror Q & A for the real-life backstory and DeFeo murders.