Watch The Amityville Murders

The Amityville Murders is a horror movie that takes us back to the infamous 1974 tragedy that shook this quiet Long Island community. Ronald DeFeo Jr., who was only 23 at the time, shot and killed his entire family while they slept in their home at 112 Ocean Avenue. This movie explores the events leading up to the fateful night and the aftermath that shook this town to its core.

John Robinson plays Butch DeFeo, Ronald's older brother, who is trying to navigate a difficult relationship with his father, Ron Sr., played by Paul Ben-Victor. Ron Sr. is a man with a temper who is trying to keep his business afloat while dealing with mounting family tensions. Butch, on the other hand, is trying to figure out a way to get out of this suffocating environment and away from his father's wrath.

Chelsea Ricketts plays Dawn, Butch's girlfriend, who is also looking for a way out. The two of them talk about their plans to move away to California, but as tensions mount in the DeFeo household, it becomes clear that leaving won't be as simple as they thought.

As the movie progresses, we see the DeFeo family rapidly disintegrating. Ron Sr. is becoming more and more irrational, and Butch is starting to unravel. Meanwhile, strange things are happening in the house, with clocks stopping at the same time each night, flies swarming the windows, and weird smells permeating the air.

The tension in the movie builds steadily, culminating in the night of the murders, which is presented in graphic detail. The violence is shocking and brutal. The use of sound is particularly effective in creating a sense of horror and dread.

After the murders, we see the aftermath of the tragedy. The Lutzes, the family that moved into the house a year later, are briefly introduced, setting up the possibility of a sequel. But the real focus of the movie is on the DeFeo family and the possible reasons for why Ronald would commit such a heinous act.

The movie doesn't offer any easy answers. It doesn't posit a paranormal explanation for the events in the house. Instead, it suggests that there were deeper psychological issues at play, that the family was crumbling under the weight of abuse and neglect. This approach is refreshing in a genre that often relies too heavily on jump scares and supernatural gimmicks.

Overall, The Amityville Murders is a well-crafted horror movie that explores the darker side of family dynamics. The performances are solid, and the cinematography and sound design are top-notch. It's not an easy movie to watch, but it's worth it for horror fans looking for something a little more substantial than the usual fare.

The Amityville Murders is a 2019 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.7 and a MetaScore of 35.