Watch Amityville: The Awakening

Amityville: The Awakening is a 2017 horror movie that explores the infamous haunted house in Amityville, New York. The story follows Belle, played by Bella Thorne, her younger sister Juliet, played by Mckenna Grace, and their mother Joan, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh, as they move into the infamous Amityville house to care for Belle's comatose twin brother James.

As soon as the family moves into the house, strange things start happening. Juliet begins to sense a malevolent presence in the house, while Belle becomes increasingly obsessed with the history of the Amityville house. Meanwhile, Joan struggles to come to terms with the fact that her son may never wake up from his coma.

As the weeks go by, the family's situation deteriorates. James' condition worsens, Belle's behavior becomes more erratic, and Juliet's nightmares become more vivid. Soon, it becomes clear that the Amityville house is not just haunted, it's cursed.

Amityville: The Awakening has all the classic horror movie tropes - creepy dolls, jump scares, and a sense of impending doom. But what sets it apart from other horror movies is its focus on family dynamics. Belle and Juliet's relationship is at the heart of the movie, and their bond is tested by the supernatural forces in the house. Meanwhile, Joan's struggle to keep her family together in the face of tragedy is poignant and heartbreaking.

The movie also delves into the history of the Amityville house, which is based on a real-life murder case that took place in the 1970s. The movie doesn't shy away from the gruesome details of the murders, but it also doesn't exploit them for cheap scares. Instead, it uses the history of the house to create a sense of dread and unease.

The performances in Amityville: The Awakening are solid across the board. Jennifer Jason Leigh brings depth and nuance to Joan, a mother who is struggling to keep it together in the face of unimaginable grief. Bella Thorne is convincing as Belle, a troubled teenager who becomes increasingly unhinged as the movie progresses. But the real standout performance comes from Mckenna Grace, who plays Juliet. Grace is a talented young actress who brings a sense of vulnerability and innocence to the role. Her character is the heart of the movie, and she carries it effortlessly.

Visually, Amityville: The Awakening is a mixed bag. The movie relies heavily on jump scares and creepy imagery, which can become repetitive after a while. However, the filmmakers do a good job of creating a sense of claustrophobia and unease within the confines of the Amityville house. The use of shadows and light to create tension is effective, and there are a few truly creepy moments.

Overall, Amityville: The Awakening is a solid horror movie that delivers some scares and a few emotional punches. It's not groundbreaking or particularly original, but it's well-made and entertaining. If you're a fan of haunted house movies or just looking for a good scare, it's definitely worth checking out.

Amityville: The Awakening is a 2016 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.8 and a MetaScore of 42.