Reviewed by Jesse Miller, MoreHorror.com
38 years after the world first learnt about a possible haunting in Amityville, now known as “The Amityville Horror”, Writer / Director Eric Walter and his band of film-makers approach Daniel Lutz for any more bits of information involving his family and the paranormal forces they may or may not faced during the 28 days they lived in that house.
The audience sits down to talk with Daniel about his life before and after the event and along for the ride are various journalists that covered the original news articles, parapsychologists that have probably been studying the situation for years, psychologists that examine Daniel’s mental state and friends of the family that have some stuff of their own to say.
What you’ve got here then is a documentary that explores the possibility of a supernatural force but also takes a step back and examines Daniel’s life as a troubled teen all the way up to his psychological state as an adult.
More interesting is the examination that all this supernatural activity is a by-product of the troubled household that Daniel lived in, that the negative aspects of his new step dad and new household led to a confused child believing he was possessed or that his dad could perform telekinesis.
The strongest thing about this documentary is that it takes this uncomfortable look at Daniel’s mental health and asks the sad questions and ponders why this man has become such a broken, haunted man.
When Daniel grumbles that he was possessed as a teenager, that he was taken to a boarding school where priests preformed an exorcism on him, you can’t help but be torn between accepting his answer as it is or just feeling sorry for him as he struggled with his family’s newfound fame as a result of their story.
Other portions of the documentary sees parapsychologists question the rumours about George Lutz dabbling in the occult and discusses whether or not he simply invited something in, going so far as to say that the Lutz’s needlessly put their families and professions at risk just to come out and describe their horror story.
Meanwhile, journalists, including those who conducted a 6-hour investigation into the house days after the Lutz’s fled, go over their notes with one another and discuss their thoughts about whether or not the Lutz’s were frauds.
Of course, the film presents no answers to any of its raised questions, leaving the audience to come to their own conclusions based on the evidence that we see here throughout.
The documentary is stylish enough, featuring sound design that enhances Daniel’s recounts of supernatural activity, while a musical score makes things sombre or suspenseful when the time calls for it.
You’ll see a lot of archive footage from the original murders at that house, straight up to old newspaper articles and interviews with the Lutz’s shortly after their experience.
Sceptics will wave the film away with their hand but the good thing there is that film maker Eric Walter is just as sceptical and rather than just focusing on the paranormal activity, he carefully takes a look at both sides of the coin.
Whatever went down in Amityville for the 28 days the Lutz’s stayed there, the fact of the matter here is that it has had a lasting psychological effect on Daniel throughout his life.
And for those like me, who are half way between believing in supernatural things and interested in hearing what Daniel and all the journalists have to say, they will find My Amityville Horror a fascinating documentary to look over.