The Amityville Curse Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "The Amityville Curse" on Blu-ray appears to deliver a commendable visual experience, thanks to an AVC encoding with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio, sourced from a 2K scan of the original camera negative. Those familiar with the VHS version will find this transfer significantly enhances the clarity and detail, capturing the film's late fall and early winter atmosphere with precision. The detail is particularly noteworthy in skin textures and the fibrous design of period costumes, while the visuals of house tours and exterior shots offer good dimension. Colors present a vibrant contrast with both warm primaries and cooler, moodier hues being accurately preserved, ensuring naturalistic skin tones.

Black levels are generally stable, though slightly inconsistent in certain scenes, avoiding critical crush issues. The film's mood is aptly encapsulated through the drab, cold gray fall/winter palette, while primaries receive considerable attention in other sequences to enhance realism. The source material is in good condition with minimal damage noted, indicated by occasional speckles that do not detract from the overall viewing experience. While some grain is present, it exhibits a heavier and chunkier appearance, contributing to the film's aesthetic of nostalgia rather than detracting from the quality.

Overall, this Blu-ray release offers a marked improvement over previous formats, allowing collectors and new viewers alike to explore its production design and atmospheric visuals more fully. The makeup effects towards the film’s climax are also notably enhanced, highlighting the film's technical strengths in visual storytelling.

The 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio mix of "The Amityville Curse" delivers a satisfactory listening experience with its effective balance and clarity. The audio presentation captures the essence of the film's atmospheric tension, allowing performance nuances to shine while elevating scenes of heightened hysteria. The scoring weaves seamlessly with the narrative, bolstering suspenseful moments and providing clean instrumentation that enhances the viewer's immersion.

This mix is notably adept at delivering the film's moody tone, prioritizing subtle scares over loud jump effects. Dialog clarity remains consistently sharp, though certain segments exhibit a slightly hollow quality, suggestive of potential looping or overdubbing. Despite these minor imperfections, the audio effectively maintains an engaging level of spatial imaging across the channels, contributing to a richer atmospheric feel and enveloping the audience in the film’s eerie ambiance.

The Blu Ray release of "The Amityville Curse" delivers an engaging array of extras that elevate the viewing experience beyond the primary feature. Renowned film historians Paul Corupe and Jason Pichonsky provide insightful commentary, propelling a deeper understanding of the movie's context. Highlights include an interview with Tom Berry in "Amityville Memories," which delves into the origins and production challenges of the film, offering a glimpse into the golden age of horror cinema. Actress Dawna Wightman shares personal anecdotes and professional hurdles in "Acting in Amityville," providing an intimate look at her career aspirations and experiences on set. Cinematographer Rodney Gibbons discusses technical aspects and his educational journey in "Shooting Amityville," complemented by "Rodney Remembers," where he reflects on broader career experiences. These interviews, paired with a booklet featuring Alexandra Holzer and a comic by Rick Trembles, enrich viewers' appreciation of the film.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Features Paul Corupe and Jason Pichonsky.
• Amityville Memories: Interview with Tom Berry.
• Acting in Amityville: Interview with Dawna Wightman.
• Shooting Amityville: Interview with Rodney Gibbons.
• Rodney Remembers: Second interview with Rodney Gibbons.
• Booklet: Includes an interview with Alexandra Holzer and a comic from Rick Trembles.

The Amityville Curse operates as a loosely connected chapter in the Amityville Horror franchise, embracing the cursed object genre with a narrative that borders on camp. It engages viewers by presenting a ludicrous tale of domestic terror rooted in the supernatural, perpetrated from a confessional booth in the basement of a cursed home. Based on Hans Holzer’s book, the film retains thematic connections to the horror series’ Catholicism while diverging into the realms of absurdity and psychodrama. The movie lacks genuine scares, instead indulging in melodramatic outbursts and foolish characters unaware of their predicaments until it’s too late.

The plot follows new homeowners Marvin and Debbie, who, alongside college companions Frank, Abigail, and Bill, aim to flip a peculiar property in Amityville. The house harbors malevolent forces, notably encountered by Debbie, who possesses ESP. Despite its thematic potential, the narrative execution falls short. Director Tom Berry struggles to effectively realize horror elements visually, delivering a mediocre spectacle. Notable moments feature an angry dog and some crawling tarantulas rather than significant haunting incidents. Though Dawna Wightman’s portrayal of Debbie endeavors to evoke intensity, the screenplay offers minimal support, resulting in uninspired ventures into the supernatural.

Shot in Toronto under the guise of Canuxploitation, The Amityville Curse departs from its Long Island predecessors in setting and narrative depth. While diverting as an entertaining endeavor within the direct-to-video domain, it lacks substantive connection to the original DeFeo and Lutz hauntings. Despite its flaws, there are some enjoyable horror sequences towards the film’s climax. Technically admirable cinematography by Rodney Gibbins complements these sequences, although the film remains detached from meaningful narrative continuity with previous series entries. This adds to its appeal as a standalone spooky house flick without expectation of coherence or depth within the larger Amityville mythos.

"The Amityville Curse," a curious installment in the long-standing Amityville franchise, takes its place as a peculiar entry for both enthusiasts and those drawn to the incongruous charm of Canuxploitation. The film, based loosely on a novel that itself veers off the original haunted narrative, struggles with coherence but manages to retain an oddly entertaining quality. As with several other sequels, it falls short of delivering genuine horror, opting instead for a routine climax filled with possession tropes and uninspired effects. Those familiar with the franchise may find some nostalgic amusement, yet for horror aficionados, it offers little in the way of fresh chills or suspense.

However, the recent Blu-ray release from Canadian International Pictures and Vinegar Syndrome breathes new life into this obscure piece of cinema. The A/V presentation has been given due diligence, showcasing the film with notable clarity and quality that outshines its initial 1990 rental release. Accompanying this visual upgrade is an engaging selection of bonus features that enrich the overall package, providing context and nostalgia that bolster the film's dated charms. While not a hallmark of horror, this release invites viewers to explore its peculiar charisma through improved picture quality and additional content.

In conclusion, "The Amityville Curse" may not revolutionize or even significantly contribute to its genre or lineage, but it does offer a fascinating glimpse into lesser-seen corners of horror cinema. Its appeal likely lies in its novelty and enhancements made for this Blu-ray release rather than its storytelling prowess. For those willing to embrace its quirks or revisit it under new technical refinements, this edition offers an experience worth sampling.