"For God's Sake, Get Out!"

Torture, gore and death are the three elements that are required in order to produce a hgh-quality bloodcurdling scary movie. My whole life I have enjoyed watching horror movies, although I will admit that I am terrified of zombies!!!! My name is Jackie and I am a student at the University of St. Francis. In my blogs I will give my opinion as well as little kown facts on various scary movies, both new and old.

Scary movies are good for entertainment, but it is more intriguing when it is based on a true story. The greatest example would be none other than Stuart Rosenberg's "The Amityville Horror" (1979). The one element this movie has that makes it appealing is that fact that the evil is just a presence and has no real face or body, but has great power.


It all begins when a family relocates to the quiet town of Amityville, Long Island. The family consists of Gerorge (James Brolin) and Kathy (Margot Kidder) Lutz as well as Kathy's children Amy (Natasha Ryan) and Matthew (Meeno Peluce). The house is beautiful and everything they ever wanted; only problem was the house had a very bloody dark past. One year earlier a deranged father, that looked somewhat similar to George, killed his wife, four kids and then himself.

While in the house the family experiences strange voices, swarms of insects, doors opening and closing as well as various other supernatural experiences. One example would bethe horrible illness the house afflicted upon Father Frank Delaney (Rod Steiger) when he came in an attempt to bless the house.

Also going on was Amy finding in imaginary friend named Jody. As time passed, she seemed to become obsessed with her new friend, or it could also be said that her new friends influence was great. One night when Kathy entered her daughter's room she was told she had scared Joy out of the window. When she peered out, she caught a glimpse of a pair of glowing red eyes.

George's character was greatly inflfuenced by the houses power, changing his caracter and attitude. He became bitter and vengeful, experienceing nightmares about axe murdering Amy and Kathy, hateful thoughts and an illness that sharpened his bitterness as well as beginning his abusive language. His behavior got so bad that he actuallyhit his wife, causing a bloody nose.

The climax of the movie comes when the house begins to bleed and ooze black slime from the toliets. This couls have been due to the fact that the house is said to be built over a gateway to Hell. The family finally smartens up and leaves the house for good, barely escaping with their lives.

I really do believe that the less a movie shows the better. In this case the fact that the one definite creature was not shown makes you reallybelieve that the house was the cause of all this, rather than an actual person.

The 'man with the ax' concept is very reminiscent of actor Jack Nicholson's character Jack Torrance in "The Shining". Both characters act as crazed faced men determined to kill their family due to supernatual influences.

I do enjoy the movie, although it was way before my time. That just proves that it can be appreciated by other generations.