This horror prequel depicts the events that lead to the massacre of a family. The movie was based on the actual family who lived in the Amityville house, the DeFeo's, who were all murdered by the oldest son. There are inaccuracies to not only the real events, but to the events depicted in the first movie. I remember being told this movie was "scarier than the first one," but I found myself laughing at most of it. Don't get me wrong, there were still some creepy moments (the mother feeling a presence in the basement, Sonny being attacked by the presence and hearing the voices), but it was mainly made up of bad writing and awkward dialog. Some of the special effects were surprisingly done very well for their time. Jack Magner also did an exceptional job portraying a young man slowly losing his mind to a maleficent force. It was decent, even with the bad dialog, until the last twenty minutes or so. The ending was very weak and fell flat. But overall, I would say to watch it for the good parts I mentioned and then make fun of the rest.

This is loosely based on the 1979 book "Murder In Amityville" by Hans Holzer, and centers on the Ronald Defeo Jr. Murders that took place on 112 Ocean Ave, Amityville New York in 1974 in which Defeo allegedly shot is entire family and pleaded everything from insanity to demonic possession. Defeo was found guilty and sent to prison, but the events that unfolded that November inspired the entire saga behind what is now known as "The Amityville Horror". Technically this film is the prequel to the subsequent occupation of the house by George and Kathy Lutz depicted in the first film, and comes off quite disturbing until its uneven climax.

Its a perfect example of how Hollywood exploits and the how the media can take a factually tragic event in history and completely blow it out of proportion in order to entertain and amuse the masses. The facts behind the Defeo Murders and Lutz family's claims have been a controversial subject for over 30 years now, and the mystery behind the films and books continue to entice haunted house fans and skeptics alike. Nevertheless, this movie utilizes many of the same demonic, anti-Christian symbolism and clichés that can be seen in "The Exorcist", and some of them are quite effective. Point of view, swooping camera shots, creepy music and voices, bleeding cellar walls, and unsettling atmosphere are just to name a few as evil forces wreck havoc on an already unstable family of six fathered by closed-minded brute, Burt Young. Although the film falls painfully flat on its face after the actual murders take place, and becomes an awkward and overzealous attempt at making another "Exorcist" ripoff with the battle between a misunderstood priest, James Olson and the demonic entity. The final climax is convoluted and distorted, but the disturbing events leading up to it are definitely worth checking out. Followed by "Amityville 3D", When will Hollywood give up?

*MINOR SPOILERS*

I saw the first Amityville about 2 months ago and hated it. I thought the whole film was bad and not one scene impressed me or had any affect on me.

Amityville 2 however is quite scary, as written previously, more so in the first hour than towards the end. The most upsetting scene being when the eldest daughter is murdered. Her character is played more to the audience than any other by her loyalty to each member of the family, hugging her brother and father after the shotgun in the neck incident.

The ending was a bit over done with special effects which weren't necessary but on the whole I recommend this more than the first installment. 6/10