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cazawaza's review against another edition
4.0
Ignore all the 1* reviews from clear sceptics of whether ghosts are real or just the non believers of the paranormal this is an interesting read. Whether the events in this book actually occurred or not this is a still good spooky read for people who enjoy horror.
nitaantony's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
THE AMITYVILLE HORROR
Author: Jay Anson
Genre: True Horror
Moods: Mysterious, Unsettling
Pace: Medium
Synopsis:
In December 1975, George and Kathleen Lutz moved into what seemed like their dream home in suburban Long Island. Despite knowing that, just a year earlier, Ronald DeFeo Jr. had brutally murdered his parents and siblings in the house, they couldn’t resist the allure of the property—boathouse, swimming pool, and an irresistible price.
But just twenty-eight days later, they fled in terror.
What followed was a chilling account of paranormal disturbances—strange noises, unexplained odors, ghostly apparitions, demonic entities, and an overwhelming sense of malevolence permeating the house. Jay Anson’s book presents these events as a true story, recounting the Lutz family’s supernatural ordeal and their ultimate decision to abandon their home.
Remarks:
If you’re looking for a truly spine-chilling horror novel, The Amityville Horror may not fully satisfy, as it follows a well-worn formula that has been explored extensively in films and literature. However, if you believe that ghosts and supernatural occurrences are purely fictional, this so-called “true story” may challenge your skepticism.
That said, the writing style (matter-of-fact style) leans more toward a documentary-like retelling than an engaging narrative, making it feel somewhat flat and lacking in immersive storytelling. While the premise is undeniably eerie, the execution leaves much to be desired.
While this detached, journalistic tone lends credibility to the “true story” claim, it also reduces the emotional impact.
Unlike horror novels that build suspense through character development and atmospheric descriptions, The Amityville Horror presents a series of events without deeply exploring the psychological toll on the characters.
However, the pacing is effective, and the book moves quickly, making it an easy read despite its stylistic limitations.
Post Credit:
Authenticity & Controversy:
1)Was It Real?
One of the biggest debates surrounding The Amityville Horror is its authenticity. The Lutz family claimed the events were real, but numerous inconsistencies have been pointed out over the years:
- Contradictions in the Lutzes’ Statements – Over time, the family gave conflicting accounts of what happened.
- Father Mancuso’s Denials – The priest distanced himself from parts of the story, stating that his role was exaggerated.
- No Physical Evidence – Investigators found no solid proof of supernatural occurrences.
- Legal Issues & Allegations of a Hoax – It was later revealed that the Lutz family had connections with William Weber, Ronald DeFeo’s defense attorney, who allegedly suggested they fabricate the story to profit from a book deal.
Despite these doubts, believers argue that supernatural experiences are difficult to prove and that the Lutz family had no reason to abandon their house suddenly if something terrifying hadn’t occurred.
Impact & Legacy:
1)Cultural Influence
Regardless of its authenticity, The Amityville Horror left a lasting impact on horror literature and cinema. It inspired numerous films, documentaries, and books about haunted houses, influencing later works like The Conjuring series.
2)Popularizing the “True Horror” Genre
The book’s success paved the way for other “true haunting” accounts, such as The Exorcism of Emily Rose and The Entity, which mixed real-life claims with supernatural horror storytelling.
3)Paranormal Investigations
The Amityville case remains a key reference point in ghost hunting and paranormal research, even if many experts dismiss it as a hoax.
Final Verdict:
Who should watch it?
- Readers intrigued by “true horror” accounts.
Who might not enjoy it?
- Those looking for deeply psychological or literary horror (The Shining, House of Leaves).
My Rating: 3/5
kyleighwhitsell's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
gwang's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.5
Genuinely unsettling stuff, especially if you're reading at night; for 1977, the book must have been ahead of its time. Writing style was very simplistic and matter-of-fact but.. it does the trick.
georgiexcakes's review against another edition
3.0
I was looking forward to reading a “classic” horror book, but I have to say this was fairly average. When it was written, I am sure it freaked a lot of people out, but after being aware of the story and subsequent debunkings, I think it lost some of its mysticism.
arodplatypus's review against another edition
2.0
Dry and unengaging writing style. The book felt like a hoax the whole time I was reading it. Every supernatural trope was thrown into the book, and the real story seems to be that of a couple who's marriage and financial stability are under duress making up a bunch of shit to externalize those problems. The most interesting part of this book was (similar to The Exorcist) the culture of the 70's that was so open to and legitimizing of "paranormal psychology".
heyyyitsericm's review against another edition
4.0
So, as a kid who was raised on horror movies, I’ve watched the original “Amityville Horror” and its remake tons of times. Not to mention all its original sequels and then all the other movies where they just threw on the “Amityville” name to try to get you to watch.
But, I had never read the book. When I was younger, the original movie scared me. My first exposure to a “based on a true story” horror movie, and it left me genuinely concerned about my house getting possessed by demons. The red eyes in the window...the babysitter trapped in the closet and her bloody hands...the window shutting on the boy’s hand. Stuff of nightmares. As I grew older, it started to come to light that George and Kathy Lutz were hard up for cash, so the whole “horror” was all a made up scam.
Listening to the book, it’s interesting what was used for the movie and what was left out. It was evident the movie was written for scares. The book, although scary in its own right, seems to go more for a psychological horror approach. As George and Kathy realize something isn’t right in their house - the impact seems more like depression, marriage troubles parental issues, financial problems and career failure - with the additional presence of demons. The author seems to make the connection between the horror in the house the horror all adults experience in our lives. Combine them, and you get a pretty creepy novel.
The narrator for the Audible version reads it almost as a straightforward forward news report, which adds to the creep factor, but also the supposed reality of the situation. The books takes on an even chillier dimension as we hear how the demonic infestation also impacts the priest, Fr. Mancini, who attempted to help. Although, some of the elements seem a bit of out left field and better support the idea the Lutzes made this all up...like green ectoplasmic goo, lion statues that move and bite people, and toilets that randomly just fill with a black substance. It also comes across as they are trying to provide a million different haunts and thus reasons for the possession.
There’s the off-handed reference to the witchcraft peddling preacher Catchum, who is a major plot point in the remake. It doesn’t go anywhere in the book. There’s also poltergeist behavior, but also demons in the fire, and demons terrorizing the children. It’s just a whole lot which makes it more evident that they were trying to make this as sensational as possible to get the most attention.
But, I could understand if anyone read this book when it was first published why they would be scared - and also why it became the subject matter for such a popular horror movie (and tons of subsequent movies.)
But, I had never read the book. When I was younger, the original movie scared me. My first exposure to a “based on a true story” horror movie, and it left me genuinely concerned about my house getting possessed by demons. The red eyes in the window...the babysitter trapped in the closet and her bloody hands...the window shutting on the boy’s hand. Stuff of nightmares. As I grew older, it started to come to light that George and Kathy Lutz were hard up for cash, so the whole “horror” was all a made up scam.
Listening to the book, it’s interesting what was used for the movie and what was left out. It was evident the movie was written for scares. The book, although scary in its own right, seems to go more for a psychological horror approach. As George and Kathy realize something isn’t right in their house - the impact seems more like depression, marriage troubles parental issues, financial problems and career failure - with the additional presence of demons. The author seems to make the connection between the horror in the house the horror all adults experience in our lives. Combine them, and you get a pretty creepy novel.
The narrator for the Audible version reads it almost as a straightforward forward news report, which adds to the creep factor, but also the supposed reality of the situation. The books takes on an even chillier dimension as we hear how the demonic infestation also impacts the priest, Fr. Mancini, who attempted to help. Although, some of the elements seem a bit of out left field and better support the idea the Lutzes made this all up...like green ectoplasmic goo, lion statues that move and bite people, and toilets that randomly just fill with a black substance. It also comes across as they are trying to provide a million different haunts and thus reasons for the possession.
There’s the off-handed reference to the witchcraft peddling preacher Catchum, who is a major plot point in the remake. It doesn’t go anywhere in the book. There’s also poltergeist behavior, but also demons in the fire, and demons terrorizing the children. It’s just a whole lot which makes it more evident that they were trying to make this as sensational as possible to get the most attention.
But, I could understand if anyone read this book when it was first published why they would be scared - and also why it became the subject matter for such a popular horror movie (and tons of subsequent movies.)