Amityville II: The Possession

Amityville II: The Possession
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Damiano Damiani
Produced by	Dino De Laurentiis Stephen R. Greenwald Ira N. Smith
Written by	Hans Holzer Tommy Lee Wallace Dardano Sacchetti
Based on	Murder in Amityville by Hans Holzer
Starring	James Olson Burt Young Rutanya Alda Jack Magner Diane Franklin Andrew Prine Moses Gunn Erika Katz Brent Katz
Music by	Lalo Schifrin
Cinematography	Franco Di Giacomo
Editing by	Sam O'Steen
Studio	Dino De Laurentiis Company Media Transactions
Distributed by	Orion Pictures Embassy Home Entertainment
Release date(s)	September 24, 1982 (1982-09-24)
Running time	100 minutes
Country	United States Mexico
Language	English
Budget	Unknown
Box office	$11,328,000 (USA)

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 prequel to The Amityville Horror, set at 112 Ocean Avenue and featuring the fictional Montelli family loosely based on the DeFeo family. The cast includes Academy Award nominee Burt Young who was finding fame in Rocky at the time; there are a few references to the Rocky films within Amityville II. 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, and is the only other film in the series to feature music composed by Lalo Schifrin.

Plot summary

The Montelli family moved into what they think would be the house of their dreams but there is an evil presence lurking within. Demons terrorize the family causing them to fall apart. The mother tries to get the local priest, Father Frank Adamsky (Olson), to bless the house but he is driven away by her abusive and sacrilegious husband before he can properly help. The Montelli's elder son, Sonny (Magner), falls victim to demonic possession. During his possession he gets his sister Patricia (Franklin) to play a game where he is a famous photographer and she is his model. She agrees and eventually ends up having sex with him. The evil spirits cause Sonny to tear the family apart and he is forced to murder his family. Father Adamsky realizes Sonny is possessed and asks the church for permission to perform an exorcism but this is refused when they do not believe him. He therefore takes it upon himself to free Sonny's soul, but after freeing him, he ends up possessed by the demon instead.

Production

George Lutz wanted the sequel to the 1979 film to be based on the book The Amityville Horror Part II by John G. Jones, but the producer Dino De Laurentiis secured a deal with American International Pictures for a sequel based on Murder in Amityville by Hans Holzer. Lutz sued De Laurentiis and ultimately lost, but succeeded in having posters placed in theaters stating "This film has no affiliation with George and Kathy Lutz."

Unlike the first "Amityville" film, Amityville II was filmed in a studio in Mexico. Filmmakers filmed at the same house in Toms River New Jersey that the previous film used. The explosion scene at the end of the film was real during filming. A highly explosive chemical which produces flames that burn out instantly was used. During filming of the explosion scene at the end of the movie the effect reportedly backfired and burned the side of the house.

Inconsistencies

While a prequel, Amityville II contradicts the opening of the 1979 film which shows the family massacre, and like the actual event they are all sleeping. The bodies are also removed from the house in the morning, but in the first film, it's in the middle of the night.

Some of the family drama in the film did happen to the Defeos, but are exaggerated. The story introduces speculative and controversial themes, including an incestuous relationship between Sonny Montelli and his teenaged sister, who are based loosely on Ronald DeFeo, Jr. and his sister, Dawn.

Though supposedly set one year before the first Amityville Horror film, Amityville II is full of elements that are clearly from the 1980s, such as a miniature "Walkman" radio/headphone set and the presence of 1982 cars, televisions, etc.

Reception

Amityville II: The Possession received mixed reviews. Critics claimed this film went overboard with the effects and the storyline was not as interesting as expected to be. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times, who gave the first film a negative review, claimed the film "is actually slightly better than The Amityville Horror" and mentioned some good technical credits and performances. Although actress Rutanya Alda was nominated as Worst Supporting Actress at the 1982 Golden Raspberry Awards, again.

Despite most negative reviews, this film was a commercial success, ranking #1 at the box office.^{[citation needed]}

External links

• Amityville II: The Possession at the Internet Movie Database
• Amityville II: The Possession at AllRovi
• And You Call Yourself a Scientist! - Extended Plot Summary and Review