If you enjoyed The Exorcist and the original Amityville Horror film then you might get a kick out of Amityville 2: The Possession. This movie is based on the story of Ronald DeFeo Jr., the man that killed his family in real life - he was tried and convicted of 2nd Degree Murder.The original Amityville Horror film is based on the real story of George and Kathy Lutz who left the home 28 days after of living there - claiming it was haunted.It is safe to say that Amityville 2 is a prequel to Amityville Horror. Both films are worth watching if you like haunted houses and demon possession stories.8/10

If you didn't have nightmares after watching this movie you weren't paying attention. The possession of Sonny is absolutely terrifying. The use of the camera changing the perspective from that of the entity to that of the observer is a great terror inducing technique. Not to analyze the accuracy of the various phenomena depicted in the movie, such as the extreme poltergeist activity coupled with the cold spots, voices, and covering the crucifix with a tablecloth before our very eyes, just the sheer evil portrayed makes up for any "goofs." Side note: Book "Talking with Serial Killers" by Christopher Berry-Dee covers this true event starting on page 160. The interview with Ronald Joseph 'Butch' Defeo, Jr. on September 23rd, 1994 in Greenhaven prison includes the backstory of Amityville, the family, and the events leading up to the November 14, 1974 murders.

The legacy continued in the chilling prequel that follows the Defao (Montelli) family who lived in the house before the Luzs.The poltergeists prey on the family's already shaky history from the overbearing father to the close relationship between the siblings until the night of the horrific murder shocking the world over.While the first movie is a classic slow burner, this is a more fast paced roller coaster ride in the vain of the exorcist, setting us the events shown at the beginning of the first. Yet, the flashback showed the family asleep when shot, Ronnie is now Sonny and The surname that almost seems like an altered history of past events.Now a priest must who blessed the house must perform an exorcism and release the trapped souls within the walls.The scares aren't all that special from other haunting pictures we've seen before with the causal moans, ground and creepy voices until the last thirty minutes during the shooting spree.Using rain storms, shadows and pov shots added great mystery and atmosphere to who or what lurks the residence at night.Sure the effects look cheap for the demon face but was able to pull out the delights and scare factor.An 80s classic that will thrill you, chill you and question the boundaries between the realms.10/10

Let's start off with some boring facts. I know no one wants to read them, but they must be faced. Although this film is based on Hans Holzer's supposedly non-fiction book about the DeFeo Family tragedy, it is, in fact, screen-written by Tommy Lee Walace (hold your applause until the end please) and not to be taken so damned seriously. I can understand the realism confusion here. If this movie is based on a factual event and book (very much so promoted that way too, like its counterparts), then why change the names and what really happened? I'll tell you... It's An Embellished Fictional Re-Telling. In other words, much more interesting to watch than if they'd made the real story. Not to mention we wouldn't want anyone suing over misinterpretation, including Ronny DeFeo. If he's even still with us?It's a horror movie folks. It's made to be scary and entertaining. In my opinion it does both of those in spades. Creepy as hell, at least in the first hour. The pacing is break-neck, for this type of film, again, in the first hour. And what happened to Jack Magner. I know the old standard is you're only as good (or wanted) as your last film. And I think that's what it is. Mr. Magners performance should have been based on his part, but ended up being based on how much the audience seems to hate this movie. I also love how his character's name is Sonny instead of Ronny (off, literally by the next letter in the alphabet).This is one of those movies I pick to watch on a stormy night that makes my skin crawl. Keep in mind I own 4,000 DVD's and half of them are horror movies, so I have plenty to choose from. It's a film full of dread, a quality newer horror movies have forgotten about, and I truly miss and appreciate. Remaining truthful here, I kinda wish the credits would have rolled about 70 minutes in, instead of 105. The last half hour just seems tacked on to make it longer, and give the special effects people more to do. It's also a study in how guilty can we make the priest feel. Who, by the way, does come off as gay with another priest as his boyfriend. Although the ghost of the daughter that was killed by her brother confronts the priest at the end by asking if he wanted to have sex with her in the confessional. You'll note he never answers this question, he just sort of winces in angst as if wanting to tell her, NO, I"M GAY!" If that wasn't a spoiler this certainly is: I believe that after the priest asks the possessing demon to come into him, and it does (we know this because of his pulsating veins) he should have shot himself after asking God for contrition. They could have done it as a sound bite when the camera does its last pull-away from the house. It's not like this character gets used in future sequels. And I'm not sure a priest would want to live possessed by a demon. You'll also notice he was given a gun by the detective before taking Sonny out of the prison.So, if not taken too seriously and one lets the beginning creepiness just wash over them... and one doesn't base this movie on the supposed truth, one could truly enjoy this horror movie. You can't truly tell me that the disgusting trap door in the basement and the ghost POV doesn't effect the hairs on the back of your neck!