The Amityville Horror Collection [4 Discs]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Banking on the release of the 2005 remake comes The Amityville Horror DVD Collection from MGM Home Entertainment. The first three movies are included, plus a bonus disc that features an inside look at the new film, along with two History Channel documentaries on the actual Amityville case. Of the film discs, only the first one comes complete with bells and whistles. With a new high-definition anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen transfer and 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound, the first movie looks vibrant and sharp, full of atmospheric sound design made to make the hairs on the back of your neck spring to life. Extras include an exclusive audio commentary by Dr. Hanz Holzer, the author of the original Murder in Amityville book on which the movie was based. The good doctor does a nice job of laying out his side of the story, while also taking the occasional jab at Hollywood. The disc also contains the well-made "For God's Sake, Get Out!" documentary, which includes new interviews with both James Brolin and Margot Kidder. The two let loose stories of their clashes on the set and obvious moments of over-acting on both of their parts, bringing a candidness to the piece that is quite refreshing compared to many studio-created fluff pieces often found on DVDs. Seven fantastic radio spots are included on the disc as well, plus the original theatrical trailer. Amityville II and 3-D have been given the 1.85:1 anamorphic treatment, with added full-screen options on the flip side of each dual-sided disc. Sound options include a 5.1 Dolby Digital track for the third entry, while the second one got shafted with a measly mono signal. Trailers have been included for each film, but don't look for much else on either DVD. MGM definitely put some work into the set, and it shows. This is a perfect box set for anyone who's looking to bone up on his or her Amityville knowledge before the Ryan Reynolds remake comes out. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 4
• Subtitle: Eng/Fre/Spa
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Cinemascope)
• Screen: Pan and Scan
• Audio: Dolby Digital Mono
• Features:
  • cc
  • AMITYVILLE HORROR
  • Commentary by Dr. Hans Holzer, Ph.D. in Parapsychology
  • Hans Holzer Audio Commentary Introduction
  • For God's Sake, Get Out! Documentary
  • The Amityville Horror Sneak Peek
  • Radio Spots
  • Original Theatrical Trailer
  • AMITYVILLE II: THE POSSESSION:
  • Original Theatrical Trailer
  • AMITYVILLE 3D:
  • Original Theatrical Trailer

AWARDS

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

•     Nominated Best Original Score - 1979 (Lalo Schifrin)

• Hollywood Foreign Press Association

•     Nominated Best Original Score - 1979 (Lalo Schifrin)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Tony Roberts - John Baxter
       James Brolin - George Lutz
       Burt Young - Anthony Montelli
       Tess Harper - Nancy Baxter
       Rutanya Alda - Dolores Montelli
       Margot Kidder - Kathleen Lutz
       Rod Steiger - Father Delaney
       James Olson - Father Adamsky
       Robert Joy - Elliot West
       Candy Clark - Melanie
       Jack Magner - Sonny Montelli
       Don Stroud - Father Bolen
       John Beal - Harold Caswell
       Diane Franklin - Patricia Montelli
       Natasha Ryan - Amy
       Murray Hamilton - Father Ryan
       Andrew Prine - Father Tom
       K.C. Martel - Greg
       Leora Dana - Emma Caswell
       Helen Shaver - Carolyn
       Meeno Peluce - Matt
       John Harkins - Clifford Sanders
       Leo Cimino - Chancellor
       Michael Sacks - Jeff
       Lori Loughlin - Susan Baxter
       Brent Katz - Mark Montelli
       Meg Ryan - Lisa
       Erika Katz - Jan Montelli
       Val Avery - Sgt. Gionfriddo
       Moses Gunn - Detective Turner
       Amy Wright - Jackie
       John Larch - Father Nuncio
       Irene Dailey - Aunt Helena
       Hank Garrett - Bartender
       Richard Hughes - 2nd New York State Trooper
       Michael Hawkins - New York State Trooper
       Rikke Borge - Elliot's Assistant
       Jorge Zepeda - Van Driver
       Marc Vahanian - Jimmy
       Carmine Foresta - Cop at the House
       Ted Ross - Mr. Booth
       Baxter Harris - Cop #2 at the House
       Michael Stearns - Policeman
       Neil Barry - Jeff
       James Tolkan - Coroner
       Elsa Raven - Mrs. Townsend
       Peter Maloney - Newspaper Clerk
       Pete Kowanko - Roger
       Carlos Romano - David Cohler
       Eddie Barth - Agucci

• Director:

  Stuart Rosenberg, Damiano Damiani, Richard Fleischer, William Wales

• Producer:

  Elliott Geisinger, Ronald Saland, Dino de Laurentiis, Stephen R. Greenwald, Ira N. Smith, Stephen F. Kesten

• Screenwriter:

  Sandor Stern

• Book Author:

  Jay Anson

• Screenwriter:

  Tommy Lee Wallace, David Ambrose, William Wales

• Cinematographer:

  Fred Koenekamp, Franco di Giacomo, Jack Cardiff, Fred Schuler

• Composer (Music Score):

  Lalo Schifrin, Howard Blake

• Editor:

  Robert Brown, Sam O'Steen, Frank J. Urioste

• Production Designer:

  Pier Luigi Basile

• Art Director:

  Kim Edgar Swados, Ray Recht, Giorgio Postiglione

• Executive Producer:

  Samuel Z. Arkoff, Bernard Williams

• Costume Designer:

  Cynthia Bales

• Set Decorator:

  George De Titta, Jr.

• Costume Designer:

  Clifford Capone

• Sound/Sound Designer:

  Glen Robinson, Kim Ornitz, Manuel Topete

• Makeup:

  John Caglione, Jr.

• Special Effects:

  William Cruse, Dell Rheaume, Glen Robinson, Michael Wood, Connie Brink, Al Griswold

• First Assistant Director:

  Joseph P. Reidy

• Stunts:

  Harry Madsen, Scott Wilder, Noon Orsatti, David Burton

• Executive in Charge of Productio:

  Jere Henshaw

• Associate Editor:

  Stanley Frazen

• Short Story Author:

  Hans Holzer

REVIEW:

• One of the strangest sequels in horror film history, Amityville II: The Possession is a wildly disturbing and over-the-top retelling of the original DeFeo murders that occurred in the infamous Long Island house in 1974. The first thing to notice is that it's very obviously set in the 1980s, complete with '80s automobiles and demonic walkmans. The second thing that'll catch one's eye is the severely dysfunctional family, headed by Burt Young (Paulie from the Rocky series) as the crazy abusive dad in a household of overacting dimwits that includes a neurotic mother, two cornball child actors as the kids whose idea of fun is putting plastic bags over their heads (followed by the "just kidding!" line), plus a messed-up twentysomething-year-old son and his near-nubile younger sister, played by Diane Franklin (Monique from Better Off Dead). Directed by Italian maestro Damiano Damiani from a script by John Carpenter alumni Tommy Lee Wallace, the sequel is a hoot of a horror film that pulls no punches with the blood and black goo, yet still manages to be an outrageous slice of schlock cinema that confounds its viewers at every step. Whether it's the extravagant Evil Dead-style camerawork or the shocking scenes of incest and bloody murder, the film would be reprehensible if not for the campy performances and utter disrespect for the real-life story. By the time the movie skids into a blatant and hysterical Exorcist rip-off mode in the third act, either the tortured viewer is ready for anything the flick's got to dish out or they've already tuned out. With an uncredited rewrite by Dardano Sacchetti (another Italian veteran who has collaborated with Mario Bava, Lucio Fulci, and Dario Argento!), Amityville II is known in some circles as a near-masterpiece that was reportedly an inspiration for Ringu and, subsequently, most of the J-horror fad. Whatever camp one finds themselves in, there's no doubt that by the time the house literally blows up at the end, the audience's mind has been as well. Severely overlooked for too many years, The Possession eclipses the original in guts, gore, and downright shocking material that somehow through the years has gelled into one ridiculously fun time at the movies. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi