A young woman starts a job as a night-shift custodian at the High Hopes Psychiatric Hospital. The ward she is to look after houses murderers, sadists and cannibals. But it's the seemingly supernatural activities that alarm her the most and cause her to look into the history of the hospital. It's a cool premise but, …
Continue reading Amityville Reviewed- Day 11- The Amityville Asylum (2013)
This cheapo Amityville franchise entry tries to bring the delights of the ‘found footage’ genre to the series. Sounds like it could be an interesting angle, right? Wrong! This, unfortunately (and I did want it to work), doesn’t work on any level except if you’re suffering from insomnia and want the celluloid equivalent of a …
Continue reading Amityville Reviewed- Day 10- The Amityville Haunting (2011)
You heard the one about the horror franchise that goes from interesting straight to video fare to a multi-million dollar remake starring the hottest up and coming actors and took a shed load of money at the box office? That’s what happened in 2005 with the original film being remade with Ryan ‘Tranmere Rovers’ Reynolds …
Continue reading Amityville Reviewed- Day 9- The Amityville Horror (2005)
A pieced together family (divorced father, widowed mother and their respective children) move into a new desert home which just so happens to have a dollhouse of the original Amityville house in its garage (a huge red flag). There’s a lot going on here with regards to the chaos that ensues whether it’s the giant …
Continue reading Amityville Reviewed- Day 8- Amityville Dollhouse (1996)
A young photographer is given a mirror by a homeless man. Chaos ensues. The twists and turns of this franchise! I wasn’t expecting a film based around young arty types living a somewhat (for a glossy early 90’s film) bohemian life. With this setting there are, of course, comparisons to be made with Driller Killer …
Continue reading Amityville Reviewed- Day 7- Amityville: The New Generation (1993)
An affluent family buy a clock which comes from you know where. It becomes a much-loved fixture and fitting and they all live happily ever after. Just kidding. Crazy sh*t ensues. This early 90’s TV movie plays very well. Interesting characters, snappy dialogue and a leading man who looks like Eric Roberts. The moments of …
Continue reading Amityville Reviewed- Day 6- Amityville: It’s About Time (1992)
A couple buy a house in Amityville to renovate. You can guess what happens next. Spoiler- there's the body of a murdered priest in the cellar (I think. I kept drifting off which is never a good sign). Notice that this ‘film’ (and I use that term loosely) isn't even about *the* house but just …
Continue reading Amityville Reviewed- Day 5- The Amityville Curse (1990)
In this entry, a lamp from the original house causes mayhem in its new home after it's bought at a yard sale. This made-for-TV movie sounds camp as hell, and, quelle surprise, IS camp as hell! There are seriously 80’s daytime soap vibes here (which I quite enjoyed). But it's pretty solid, even if the …
Continue reading Amityville Reviewed- Day 4- Amityville Horror: The Evil Escapes (1989)
You have a horror franchise about a haunted house. The first film is pretty well made, has a great cast and occasionally dips its toe into exploitation territory. It does well at the box office. The sequel goes FULL exploitation and even has a taboo subplot that will make even the most seasoned horror fan …
Continue reading Amityville Reviewed- Day 3- Amityville 3D (1983)
Oh boy. If you’ve seen Amityville 2 you’ll know what I mean. The makers of this movie must have thought that, to compete with the original film and, indeed, outgross it, they must make it as extreme as possible. And they really succeeded. A new family have moved into the infamous house and start to …
Continue reading Amityville Reviewed- Day 2- Amityville 2: The Possession (1981)
Meathook Cinema 