Amityville II: The Possession is a 1982 horror film directed by Damiano Damiani. The screenplay by Tommy Lee Wallace is based on the novel Murder in Amityville by the parapsychologist Hans Holzer. It is a sequel to the 1979 movie The Amityville Horror, set at 112 Ocean Avenue and featuring the fictional Montelli family loosely based on the DeFeo family.
The cast includes Burt Young (Blood Beach; Carnival of Blood) who was finding fame in Rocky at the time. This film includes one of Young’s rare darker roles as he plays an abusive and violent father in contrast to his more easy-going roles. It is the second movie in the Amityville Horror saga.
Amityville II set the pattern for low-budget sequels with little reference to real-life events in Amityville.
The Montelli family move into what they thought would be the house of their dreams. However, after discovering that there is a tunnel leading into the house, an evil presence is shown to be lurking within, unknown to the family.
After unusual and paranormal activities, like an unknown banging on the door, an ugly message on the youngest kids of the Montelli family’s room’s wall (to which their brute of a father beats them after suggesting it is them who did it and also beats their mother for intervening), the Montelli mother, Dolores (Alda) tries to have the local priest, Father Frank Adamsky (Olson), bless the house. However, the priest is driven away by her sacrilegious husband, Anthony (Young), who is strict and abusive, before he can properly help.
Soon afterwards, the family go to church with Anthony, so he can “apologise” for being rude to Adamsky, but the elder son, Sonny (Magner), stays as he is “not feeling well.” He soon hears an alarming noise, and goes downstairs to get his father’s gun, and hears laughter, following it, he then falls victim to demonic possession…
Reviews:
” …even aside from the unsettling subject matter, mention must be made of the overall production design, cinematography and musical score – all of which add a sensorial richness to the overall atmosphere of the flick. Art director Pier Luigi Basile (Dune; Leviathan)really nails the atmospheric terror of the titular manse…both the foreboding exterior and Gothic interiors.” Arrow in the Head
“Amityville II is great because it goes for it. My biggest issue with the first film is that it feels tame, it never goes all out. It presents good ideas but doesn’t do anything with them. That’s not the case on this go around. Sonny not only gets possessed but he actually changes into a demon. Like his face morphs and it’s awesome.” Bloody Disgusting
” …badly acted, tackily directed, photographed with elaborate yet hilariously pointless camerawork, festooned with cheapjack special effects—altogether representative of ’80s horror at its low point.” Ferdy on Films
“Not exactly light entertainment then and unlikely to be repeat-viewed habitually but Damiani’s piece is effectual and provocative and, in essence, the truest version of events within that frightful place. It is accurate to say that a house witnesses everything which happens between its bricks and mortar but in Amityville we have a structure capable of exposing people’s mental frailties and influencing their actions.” Rivers of Grue
” …Amityville II is curiously inattentive to such theological questions as (a) Why would the desecration of a pagan burial ground be offensive to evil spirits, as opposed to benevolent ones? and (b) Why does this case call for a Catholic priest instead of a Mohawk medicine man? But never mind. There are some good performances here, by Jack Magner and Olson in particular…” RogerEbert.com
The Amityville Horror
– New interview – Haunted Melodies with Composer Lalo Schifrin
– “For God’s Sake, Get Out!” Documentary with actors James Brolin and Margot Kidder
– Audio Commentary by Dr Hans Holzer, PhD in Parapsychology (author of Murder in Amityville)
– Original Theatrical Trailer
– TV Spot
– Radio Spots
Amityville II: The Possession
– The Possession of Damiani – Interview with Director Damiano Damiani
– Adapting Amityville – New Interview with Screenwriter Tommy Lee Wallace
– Family Matters – New Interview with Actress Diane Franklin
– A Mother’s Burden – New Interview with Actress Rutanya Alda
– Father Tom’s Memories – New Interview with Actor Andrew Prine
– New Interview with ghost hunter/author Alexandra Holzer (Growing up Haunted: A Ghostly Memoir)
– New Audio Commentary with ghost hunter/author Alexandra Holzer
– Original Theatrical Trailer
Amityville 3D
– 2D and Blu-ray 3D presentation of the film for the first time!
– A Chilly Reception – New Interview with Actress Candy Clark
– Original Theatrical Trailer
Buy The Amityville Horror Trilogy from Amazon.com
