The Plot: Based on the novel of the same name, a young family is tormented and eventually driven mad by malevolent forces after moving into a new summer home. Underappreciated Also-Ran: Burnt Offerings (1976) Hell, it made $86 million when it was first released – over $250 million in today’s dollars! Did I mention that it’s not very good?

It’s clumsy, histrionic to the point of farce, and boasts mostly lame effects, not to mention that it’s already enjoyed an illustrious run. Why it’s time to back-burner it for awhile: Despite a few fun moments that fall squarely in the realm of ’70s horror schlock and an Oscar-nominated score by Lalo Schifrin, The Amityville Horror isn’t really all that good. Indeed, since its release, the film and the franchise it spawned has become one of the most recognizable properties in the history of the genre. One of the earliest films to market the hell out of its “based on true events” angle (though the Lutz family’s claims have been largely debunked since), the Stuart Rosenberg-directed film went on to spawn a series of increasingly lame sequels, in addition to a hit 2005 remake starring Ryan Reynolds and Melissa George. Why it’s so celebrated: While it’s not exactly what you would call a bona fide horror classic – at least not in the sense of artistically superior efforts like The Exorcist or The Shining – The Amityville Horror was nevertheless a blockbuster title when released and continues to be widely known today. The Plot: Based on the novel of the same name, a young family is tormented and eventually driven away by malevolent forces after moving into a new home. So why does Amityville get all the love? Inside I make my case for why the superior Burnt Offerings – which is also based on a best-selling 1970s novel, albeit one that didn’t try to pass itself off as a work of non-fiction – deserves to be lifted off the back of the DVD shelf and given a second look.īeloved Favorite: The Amityville Horror (1979) While Amityville debuted to blockbuster box-office on release and went on to spawn seven terrible sequels and a slick 2005 remake, Burnt Offerings – starring Oliver Reed and Karen Black as a married couple who with their young son and elderly aunt (Bette Davis!) are tormented by a hostile force in a rundown country estate – has remained a relatively unheralded entry in the “haunted house” sub-genre. In this installment of “Time to Revisit” I take a look at the underrated 1976 “evil house” flick Burnt Offerings – directed by Dark Shadows creator Dan Curtis – as compared to the schlocky 1979 pseudo-classic The Amityville Horror.

Burnt offerings marasco novel