Amityville II: The Possession

I watched this for the first time last night. Scary, and better than the original. Top billed James Olson gives a good performance as the priest. Burt Young isn't given a whole lot to do as the dad. Rutanya Alada, who I usually love, over-acts. 70s genre star Andrew Prine (SIMON KING OF THE WITCHES, GRIZZLY, NIGHTMARE CIRCUS) walks through a do-nothing part. The star of the show is Jack Magner. In his first professional role, only starring role, and one of two film parts, does an amazing job. His performance is outstanding, creepy, and hypnotic. I am wondering how playing such an intense part affected him and why he didn't work more. He's brilliant. The film is well shot, using the same exterior location at the first film. The interiors, however, are a completely different set design. Well worth seeking out.

I must admit I was expecting the first one to be a good horror flick but in the end I was really disappointed by it. However, this film (although not a sequel but a prequel) was really. In fact, the best of all the Amityville movies ever made. It didn't have any prologue or anything. The story immediately have the Montelli's family moved in to the house. Almost immediately the haunting began where as the mother (Rutanya Alda) turned on the tap and black liquid oozed out. Soon after, during the family dinner, as Dolores were saying grace the mirror cracked and fell. This was the scene that ignited the father's chain of abuse on his kids. All in all, this was the best Amityville film so far. However, it's a pity they didn't make use of the actually DeFeo's name.

Man did this movie ever scare the crap out of me as a kid! staying up late watching this on cable along with the original. Returning to it these many years later I still find it fun and probably the best Amityville film. While the second half obviously can't hang with the first, as the movie pretty much turns into a full blown Exorcist ripoff. The spirits this time around are more vicious and there's a lot of uncomfortable moments and some great filmmaking with a lot of cool camera angles and the presence of baby Diane Franklin, and Burt Young (who is hardcore channeling his Rocky character here) make it a great view.

After the success of "The Amityville Horror" in 1979, was produced an American-Mexican co-production film in 1982, "Amityville II: The Possession" based on the DeFeo family but their last name was changed for Montelli after legal issues. The first film is a great one but this sequel or rather this prequel is better than the first movie. Coulding be called as "The Exorcist" of the 80's, "Amityville II: The Possession" is a masterpiece, a horror film with a great cinematography and filming locations getting a wonderful creepy atmosphere. The direction is fine, the music score is awesome and the performances are really good. A great haunted house film, a classic!