The Amityville Horror Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "The Amityville Horror" offers distinct video quality, boasting a highly detailed 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio that faithfully adheres to the film’s original composition. This transfer excels with balanced contrast and deep black levels, enhancing the viewing experience with pronounced depth and shadow delineation. The bright segments deliver dynamic whites with notable object detail, and the darker scenes exhibit an impressive range of discernible shadows. Additionally, the natural color palette employs dense autumnal hues and maintains consistent, vibrant tones that elevate the ambiance, particularly as the film transitions towards its moody, rainy climax.

Fine details are meticulously rendered, offering clarity in facial features and clothing textures such as the weft of a shawl or the stitching in actors' costumes. This attention to detail extends to the architectural lines of the house and surrounding wilderness, capturing 70s aesthetic nuances with precision. The image quality is maintained without intrusive digital noise reduction (DNR), artificial edge enhancement, or other cosmetic tampering, yielding a warm, grain-infused cinematography. Despite occasional defects like slight softness in some scenes or some mild aliasing issues notably around the 22:27 mark on the staircase, the video remains sharp and resolute throughout.

Overall, the Blu-ray showcases an exceptional visual fidelity that balances dark and light elements skillfully. The picture quality is crisp and clean, augmented by robust contrasts and vibrant yet natural colors that enhance the film's cinematic feel. The presentation supports an immersive viewing experience that remains true to the horror genre's stylistic roots while ensuring a high-definition resolution that meets contemporary standards. Ideal for both devoted fans and new viewers, this transfer ensures "The Amityville Horror" looks as hauntingly excellent as it deserves.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack for "The Amityville Horror" is meticulously designed to enhance the film's atmospheric horror elements. Utilizing a combination of bold dynamics, rich bass extension, and precise sonic detailing, this audio mix leverages the full capabilities of a surround sound system to deliver a deeply engrossing experience. The soundtrack excels in creating tension through eerie off-camera noises, substantial low frequency effects, and dramatic musical cues that punctuate jump scares. Dialogues remain well-textured, clear, and seamlessly integrated into the soundscape, ensuring that speech is intelligible even amid the most chaotic scenes.

This audio presentation sets a compelling sound field with extensive use of the rear channels to produce immersive atmospheric ambience. Ambient sounds like rustling wind, falling rain, and disembodied voices effectively envelop the viewer, contributing to the film's eerie setting. Directional effects, including front-to-rear panning and impressionistic swooshes, further enhance the horror with meticulous spatial accuracy. The soundtrack is balanced with grounded low-end dynamics and crisp highs that deliver a spine-chilling auditory experience. Supplemental elements such as Steve Jablonsky's score add dramatic weight and coherence to the presentation, making it a standout component of this Blu-ray release.

Overall, this is a sophisticated surround mix that expertly leverages modern audio technology to heighten the film's suspense and terror. It provides an intensive auditory experience that not only supports the visual horror but also amplifies it, making "The Amityville Horror" an essential listen for fans of the genre.

The Blu-ray release of "The Amityville Horror" (2005) distinguishes itself by splitting its content between Blu-ray and DVD formats. The Blu-ray disc includes the high-definition theatrical trailer exclusively, ensuring minimal compression for the main feature. The DVD, however, is rich with additional material that deepens the viewer's engagement with the film and its background. The extras include an engaging audio commentary by Ryan Reynolds and producers Andrew Form and Brad Fuller, which offers both humor and insightful behind-the-scenes details. There's a detailed exploration of the DeFeo murders and a comprehensive making-of featurette. Additionally, viewers are treated to deleted scenes with optional commentary, a multi-angle on-set peek feature, and an extensive photo gallery divided into thematic sections.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Ryan Reynolds and producers discuss technical aspects humorously and informatively.
• Supernatural Homicide: Documentary on the real-life DeFeo murders.
• The Source of Evil: Making-of featurette with cast and crew interviews.
• On Set Peek: Interactive feature showing behind-the-scenes footage.
• Deleted Scenes: Eight scenes with optional commentary.
• Photo Gallery: Extensive stills from the production.
• Previews: Trailers for other MGM products.

"The Amityville Horror" (2005), directed by Andrew Douglas and produced by Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes, offers a modern retelling of the infamous haunted house story. The film follows George Lutz (Ryan Reynolds), his wife Kathy (Melissa George), and her children, as they move into a house with a dark past. Despite its commercially successful run, the remake remains haunted by its origins, with comparisons often highlighting its similarities to earlier horror classics like "The Shining" and "The Exorcist."

Douglas deploys a myriad of conventional horror tactics—from jump scares and eerie visuals to a spine-chilling soundtrack—to create temporary frights. The visceral elements, including gruesome imagery and unsettling sounds, are designed to shock but fail to deliver lasting psychological terror. The visual execution is enhanced by Peter Lyons Collister's atmospheric cinematography, which effectively sets up moments of tension, even if the narrative resorts to clichés.

Ryan Reynolds stands out as George Lutz, showcasing his dramatic side amidst gradually escalating madness. Melissa George performs adequately as Kathy, though she struggles to keep up with Reynolds' intense portrayal. Child actress Chloë Moretz shows potential despite the minimal character development afforded to the children. While the film's ending falls into predictable territory, it manages through Douglas' competent direction to sustain interest, albeit without fully transcending its genre limitations. This polished remake provides some momentary scares and succeeds better than its predecessor in delivering the horror experience but remains fundamentally unremarkable in narrative depth.

Andrew Douglas' remake of "The Amityville Horror," produced by Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes, presents itself as a competent yet polarizing effort within the horror genre. On the technical side, the Blu-ray release boasts an exceptional audio and video presentation, enhancing the film's eerie atmosphere with crisp visuals and immersive soundscapes. However, this can't mask the movie's mixed reception. While some viewers may appreciate the modern take and improved scares over Stuart Rosenberg's original, others will find it lacking in depth and subtlety.

Despite its technical merits, "The Amityville Horror" remake arguably does little to stand out among its horror contemporaries. The film provides a few decent scares and maintains a tense atmosphere, but it fails to elevate itself beyond a one-time watch for horror aficionados. The inclusion of bonus materials on a separate DVD dilutes the allure of purchasing the Blu-ray for collectors, relegating it to a secondary consideration when there are more compelling horror titles readily available.

In conclusion, this Blu-ray edition of "The Amityville Horror" is best suited for those who enjoyed the theatrical release and are fond of Douglas' rendition. For new viewers or casual horror fans, a rental would be a wiser option to gauge personal interest before committing to a purchase. Ultimately, while technically proficient, the film's content may not warrant a permanent place in every horror collection.