A fresh start turns into pure terror when the Lutz family moves into a riverside colonial with a gruesome past. Based on the infamous real-life case that sparked books, documentaries, and nightmares for decades, The Amityville Horror (2005) reimagines one of America’s most notorious hauntings with modern dread and relentless intensity.

The Plot

George and Kathy Lutz, newly married and eager to blend their families, find an expansive home in Amityville, New York, at an unbelievable price. But the house has a history: a year earlier, Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his entire family there.

At first, the Lutzes brush off the grim past — until whispers echo in the night, shadows move on their own, and George’s behavior begins to unravel into violent paranoia. As the days tick by, the house tightens its grip, pushing them toward an unthinkable fate.

Why It’s More Than Just Another Haunted House Movie

• A remake with bite – While honoring the 1979 original, the 2005 version adds sharper visuals, a faster pace, and more psychological edge.

• Ryan Reynolds, but not the rom-com guy – Known for charm and comedy, Reynolds shocked audiences with his intense, sinister turn as George Lutz.

• Rooted in “true” terror – The story draws from the real Lutz family’s claims, fueling debates about whether it’s paranormal truth or elaborate hoax.

• Atmosphere over gore – The scares rely more on creeping dread, chilling imagery, and a sense of suffocating inevitability than on cheap jumps.