I have not seen the original. This movie, it wasn't really that scary. It relied on jump scares, and creepy images, its just overflowing with cliches. But it had some potential going for it, then, it botched at the end. Honestly, i know it was based on true events, but it could've been executed much, much, better.

The DVD extra documentary is more interesting than this overproduced, cliche snorefest. Some parts stay accurate to the actual events, but some are obvious implants to add scare to the movie. Part of what makes this story so creepy, is that it isn't really clear what actually happened. Strange events following the original deaths are what make this story scary. Stay away and read the book if you want a scare.… Expand

I went to the theater the first day The Amityville Horror was showing, and at the earliest time. For my effort I was awarded with one of the most boring and least scary horror movies I've ever seen (besides the laughable Uwe Boll movies).

BRILLIANT.

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

Amityville has its scary moments, and they all made me jump when they came. However, the film tries to be subtly creepy, but is unsuccesfull at doing so, therefore it never gets under your skin. The only parts that are scary, is when the scares are in your face, and not quiet, which unfortunately, there arent many of those kind of scenes. Reynolds performance came off a bit humorous to me, Melissa George is good though. Simply put, it is a mediocre horror remake, but it still rises above other entires of the genre this year. See it for some scares and a fun time, but dont expect any lasting effect, or emotional value.… Expand

Not to bad.

Not too bad. It was entertaining, and thast's all I was looking for. My only complaint was there were so many "scares" in it. Not that I got too scared, but that there was one portion early in the movie where it was like, one scare every two minutes...I feared it would wear itself out too early. But even so, it was fairly good.

Served its purpose perfectly. Don't see if you are an elitist, artst, pretentious, close minded (when you think it's open minded) bastard (or any combination of the four). Ryan Reynolds was good, and I have to admit, very, very sexy. (Lucky Alanis).

Don't believe the lame critics. This movie was the best horror movie I've seen in a long time.

This movie served its purpose. Was it creepy? No. Was it scary. No. Was it fun? Sure, but not great fun like the Grudge and The Ring (part 1). What was the other back story at the end? It literally came out of nowhere. Will there ever be another great horror and/or scary movie?? With the track record and recent exception of Frailty? Not anytime in the near future. Also, please let bad remakes like this and the TCM stop and bring some originality to this genre.… Expand

BRILLIANT.

This movie was garbage. I found nothing scary about it, it was neither thrilling nor interesting. I was just bored; actually the screams from the people behind me were just about the only things that did keep me entertained.

This was another surprise for me. I was expecting the worst, and yet I got the best American-made horror film I've seen. Which might not be saying much, but in this case, it is. This film is very intense, and the acting is great, overall. The casting is very interesting, as the family look like real people.The scary factor is somehow richer, because it feels more, I don't know...realistic, if that makes any sense. The setup is great because living in a house where an entire family was murdered is just plain creepy, ghosts or no ghosts. Sleeping in the beds of murdured children! Yes! This one really got to me. Very enjoyable, with lot's of awesome and disturbing moments. Check it out.… Expand

Hey! Who said it was a garbage!? Did you ever make a movie? No, so don't say bad things like that about it. Sometimes I find people cruel! Its not as bad as you say. anyway its your opinion and thats mine: good movie

I think it was a good movie.not the best but pretty good. all you guys that say it wasn't good you should recomand something else instead.

This movie was bomb! it scared the hell outta me! PROPS!

A fantastic remake of the original movie. I did'nt leave my seat cause i was afraid that i'd miss somthing.

Y'know, this one wasn't half bad. It's LIGHT YEARS better than the original and it's better acted/filmed than most every horror film that has come out in the past few years. Ryan Reynolds and Melissa George have good chemistry and are believable in their roles. The kids...not so much but still they aren't half as annoying as David Dorfman from The Ring films. Don't know if I liked the resoultion but the large part of the 86 minutes are scary (without being hokey or stupid) and unnerving. I don't scare easily and I kept a light on after I saw it.… Expand

A great scary movie. Just what i expected. Come on people we are not trying for any Oscars here! Lighten up a little. What ever happened to going to the movies to have a little mindless fun? Give me this movie over any of that crap that Aston Kucher or Julia Roberts are pumping out!

Sure scared the crap out of me, whoever said this movie isnt scary is nuts, I dont think Ill ever sleep again. I've definitely never been so scared in a movie theater before in my life. So if its scary you are aiming for then this film is top notch. I also like how it followed the original but wasn't exactly like it. Of course it was a whole lot scarier and I thought they explained things well, I wanst walking out of the theater completely confused. The only fault I see to this movie is sometimes the scary images were kind of pointless and unnecessary and overused. Good movie overall though.… Expand

This was really awesome movie, lot's of scares and bloody good action, and a sweet story.

Scary in every sense of the word. the best horror movie in years.

The only way to describe this film would be an insult to the original. Amityville does not deserve to be branded a horror film as it contains no real horror whatsoever. We have the textbook jumps which are hardly scary and at best laughable, the reliance of blood and gore and a pathetic excuse for a story that you would expect from a low budget affair. Not to mention many plotholes which i noticed whilst at the cinema. A character's t-shirt appeared to be chronologically incorrect, displaying the band "slipknot" which to my knowledge may have been a bit young in the 70's to actually be a band. George's "daughter" also sported a brand new pair of converse all stars, pink; a recent version of converse that were clearly not created during the time period of the lutz's story. The only elements of amityville that actually kept me watching it was Ryan Reynolds performance, and george's slow decent into insanity. These are the only two gems hidden within a pile of crap, and this time the crap is just too damn thick.… Expand

A Pretty effective horror movie. Ryan Reynolds was surprisingly good as the protagonist/antagonist. Some genuinely good scares, and a decent remake of a horror classic. My main complaints dealt with some scenes that were absolutely not needed, and took away from an otherewise good horror story. Namely, the scene with the babysitter. The payoff was very creepy, but the lead up to it was just plain stupid, and took you out of the movie. However, she was good eye candy. There were other moments as well which took many liberties from the novel. Still, no one said this was an exact translation from the book. If a couple of these "forgetful" scenes were replacesd with more meaningful ones, my review of this film would have been stellar. The moments that were good were real good.… Expand

Considering I thought this movie was going to suck majorly like the origonal, I thought this one was pretty good.

It's sad to see critics ripping into this movie so hard. I thought there were some pretty effective jolts, and it's nice to see Ryan Reynolds get a chance to act in something better than Blade: Trinity. Lots of critics are saying that it deviated from the original (and in truth, so did the original from the book.) I guess what i'm trying to say is, if you are going to do a remake, what fun is it for the audience if you carbon copy the original. Anybody remember Gus Van Sant's awful almost frame-by-frame remake of Psycho? I rest my case.… Expand

Very scary. Made me jump and scream, along with my 4 friends who were with me. It was very fun to scream with them. I liked it a lot!

I have seen the original and the fact that it was different made the movie for me. If I wanted to the the exact same "Aminityville" movie, I would rent the James Brolin version for $4.24 instead of of paying 9.00 in the theatres. Ryan Reynolds did and outstanding job in the lead role, he truly took on the role of "tortured homeowner" and made the movie eerie and suspenseful.

It wasn't the scariest movie I've ever seen or the most enjoyable one ... but, I liked it! I give it a 7 for sure enjoyment factor. There were a few scares that got my heart moving a little quicker and I the movie never really felt like it had any "slow" parts. It moved right along from beginning to end. As far as scary movies go, there's better ones out there, but you';ll get a good scare out of this one. And you'll certainly be re-evaluating any real estate purchases!… Expand

Of course the critics wouldn't like this, but this is because critics don't like ANYTHING, or so it would seem. I agree with the fact this film does contain a whole heap of cliches, but it is good for what it is. Horror is dead these days I'm afraid, I doubt we'll see anything orginal from this genre again, so switch off your brain and enjoy a creepy film with good effects and a suprisingly good performance from Ryan Reynolds. Although, did we really have to see him with his shirt off so much?… Expand

You have got to be kidding me. My advice to anyone out there who is considering this stupid movie: save your money and rent the original, because even that one is better than this ridiculous mess.

This just isn't the way to go about a horror movie. The plot was over the top and obviously over dramatised. There needs to be better pacing. Even the visuals were do overdone. Had high hopes for this...sigh.

This is a top movie well scarey I still freaked out now.

This is the scariest movie EVER!!! Marvelous...simply marvelous.

A well made, and acted film. the 1st horror in a long time to make me jump, and the 1st time i ever heard someone scream in a cinema!

Not the best take on the story but it was watchable. slightly slow to start but once u get into it it realli isen't that bad. I have read the novel by Jay Anson’s and was intrigued about the whole subject and spent several hrs finding out all i could I dislike movies based on tragic events, however this film lets you know the basics and although personally i think it could have been filmed betta i think that it's always hard to produce films which u know will shock people especially when there is already a horrific and disturbing story to recreate as not much more has to be added to shock people. Overall a decent film in the end especially like the documentry on extras.… Expand

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

The movie was pretty good. I enjoyed it. Wasn't as scary as I was expecting. Still good.

This movie is the best horror film i've seen in a while. I would rate this with the excersist.

I was amazed that I somewhat liked the movie. It was kind of an old-fashioned scare. The period was captured fairly well and there is a good amount of tension. It's not "hide in the closet" scary, but kind of chilling and creepy. Nowhere near my fave, but it's worth the ticket price or at least a rental.

In 1975, there was no Internet, of course, so if you wanted to research the history of your house, there was the library. But since "The Amityville Horror" does such a lackluster job with its period detail, the card catalog and microfiche play like anachorisms. When the Lutzs move in, original music that sounds too damn contemporary is utilized instead of "School's Out", or any period-specific song that would've reminded us that Gerald Ford is in office. Did the screenwriter, or screenwriting committee forget the timeline? The Catholic preist did. When referring to the murders, he tells Kathy (Melissa George) about the crimes happening a while back, which would be true for lower forms of life like a parakeet or tree snake, who experience time differently from us. A year is not a while back for humans. "The Amityville Horror" isn't wholly wretched like "Boogeyman". There are capable actors here. Just kinda'.… Expand

I am shocked that someone decided to pull only the most overused cliches from any (take your pick) of the recent "horror" films and slap the title "Amityville" on it as its only sensible box office draw. This film is an injustice to the genre and its title.

I love how critics rip on this film. Its a horror film, and as such it serves as a fun popcorn film to tickle yr fancy for 90mins. If you are a pretentious person who can only be chided into seeing the latest parisian export then this isn't for you. If on the other hand you enjoy just the atmosphere of the theater and seeing a fun film then this is something you should invest in. Ryan Reynolds was pretty good and despite what others may say there were indeed some great old-fashioned seat jumping moments.… Expand

I was a fan of the guilty-pleasure "Texas Chansaw Massacre", which was made by the same producer-writer team who made this. So despite the drudge of recent crappy-horror movies we've been forced to put up with, I was at least hoping for a somewhat intelligent and well-made horror movie. I was wrong again. Albeit this movie is not offensively bad like say "Boogeyman" or "The Ring 2", but it not grisly or dark enough to be as fun-in-a-naughty-way like TCM or the recent remake of Dawn of the Dead. Nor is it as old-school scary as "The Grudge" or "The Ring". It piles on the worst cliches imaginable and ends up being like the bastard stepchild of "Cold Creek Manor" and "Godsend". All with the obligatory "the kid does something really weird" scene and of course, the scene where the good guy goes to the local library and looks at old microfiche (because ALL local libraries in small towns have a microfiche machine with a huge database of old newspapers and old texts on ancient curses) to find clues. Serve up a side helping of the slutty babysitter, the priest who tries to help, etc. Ryan Reynolds is a decent actor and he is always entertaining, but his dedicated perf. isn't enough. There are just too many cliches, too many lost opportunities, too many lapses in any sort of logic that in the end I just didn't care enough as to who lived and who died.… Expand

Not as bad as some of the reviewers are making it out to be. Definitely a lot better than I expected, considering the same guy did the remake of 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre', which was awful. It's worth renting if you're up for a good scare or two, but I can't recommend wasting your money at the theater.

Pros: Very frightning effects, neat ending, more up to par with old counterpart than other remakes. Cons: Relies too much on effects, too little on story, the slutty babysitter (you'll know what im talking about when u watch the movie;she really seems like a druggy corner whore). Overview: A solid horror film that suffers from a story whose eyes were gauged out.

Stupid movie. Effects are good for a horror movie.

This movie was the best!!!! now i'm doing all types of research on this topic. the movie definely had me jumping and hiding under my coat.