Amityville Horror II: Fact or Fiction?

The interior of the Amityville Horror House certainly looks cozy and safe...  Was the blockbuster movie and book for real? Let's take a look.

Claim #1: Kathy Lutz (the family who lived the Amityville Horror) claimed in a 2000 History Channel interview that a tragedy had befallen every family who lived in the DeFeo home.
Facts: The Dutch Colonial home was built by John and Catherine Mohnahan in 1925. They had six children, one of which (Eileen Fitzgerald) moved her own family into the house. Eileen lived there until 1960. The buyers, John and Mary Riley lived in the house for 5 years before divorcing. The DeFeos were residents for nine years until the tragic murders. The Lutz family claims are documented in the book and movie.

Claim #2: Jay Anson's book suggests the property is cursed because it had once belonged to John Ketcham, a suspected witch in Salem, Massachusetts who fled to Amityville.
Facts: Geneological and historical records reveal several John Ketchams in the area, none of who ever resided near the property or was a witch.

Claim #3. The book claims the house is located on a cursed Indian cemetery.
Facts: New York State Records and The Amityville Historical Society have no records of any cemeteries in the area of the house. The Montaukett Indians lived in the area, but were based in tidal basins. They showed author Jay Anson their old burial grounds, all of which were outside of Amityville.

Claim #4: The book relayed the heavy involvement of the Catholic Church in the hauntings of the house.
Facts: Father Ralph Pecoraro's only contact with the Lutzes was a phone call and it's unclear whether the priest ever visited 112 Ocean Avenue. The assistant to the Vicar General of the diocese overseeing Amityville said in a May 15, 2002 letter: "The Diocese maintains [the Amityville Horror] is a false report."

Why would the Lutz's and Jay Anson lie? The answer is probably found in money and buyer's remorse. Anson made a mint on the book and movie; the Lutz's never made a payment on their $60,000 mortgage, fleeing the property in 28 days. Subsequent owners Jim and Barbara Cromarty were so hounded by the curious that they sued the Lutz's and Anson in a multi-million lawsuit claiming "false misrepresentations were made willfully and solely for commercial exploitation." There was an undisclosed settlement.

The home was sold for $300,000 in 1997, is currently priced for $1.3 million, has a boathouse, is located on Amityville Creek and assessed $10,000 in taxes a year. Ghosts need not apply.

The Amityville Horror

In 1974, Ronald DeFeo, Jr. murdered six family members as they slept in a colonial-styled home located on 112 Ocean Avenue near Long Island. DeFeo was ordered to serve 25 years to life for the murders. The home was subsequently purchased and lived in by George and Kathleen Lutz who fled the house after 28 days, citing a series of supernatural happenings as the reason for their exodus. Their experience was chronicled in the bestselling book The Amityville Horror. The Lutz's let the house fall into foreclosure.

Cromarty purchased the house in 1977 and lived there for a decade. "Nothing weird ever happened, except for people coming by because of the book and the movie," he said. The Cromartys changed the address to discourage "tourists" and sold the house in 1987 to Peter and Jeanne O'Neill.

A line of prospective buyers line up for the
open house sale of the Amityville Horror house. 

The house turned turned over again in 1997 to Brian Wilson who put the home on the market for $1.15 million in 2010. The Fragosos bought the 10-room 1920s home, but a year later listed it for sale for $1.35 million. They insist they're moving to be closer to family members in New Jersey and not because the house is haunted.

Our Top 20 Horror Films

Everyone who reads this blog undoubtedly appreciates a good horror story. Here is a list of our Top 20, taking into account that we're biased against zombie flicks, lean towards psycho-thrillers and have certainly missed some good ones along the way. (Those are on our "To Be Seen List!") The following are in no particular order.

* Friday the 13th (1980). The first time that freakish twist(ed) ending was used so dramatically. Well worth the scream and jump from the chair.

* Halloween (1978). Considered the first slasher film. Jamie Lee Curtis' break-out movie.

 * Psycho (1960). The movie was based on a real-life murderer.  Director Alfred Hitchcock used chocolate syrup for filming the blood in the shower scene.

* The Amityville Horror (1979). There is still controversy as to whether this story was based on true events or an entire sham concocted by a family greedy for fame and fortune.

* The Exorcist (1973). What kind of parents allows their 13-year-old child to star in such severely disturbing movie?!

* The Omen (1976). First in a 3-movie trilogy. Multiple deaths and serious incidents happened on the set, leading many to consider the movie a cursed endeavor.

* Rosemary's Baby (1968). Director Roman Polanski showed genius in weaving a complex tale disturbing on many levels.

* The Shining (1980). Filmed at the Timberline Lodge in Mt. Hood in Oregon, Director Stanley Kubrick would strangely call Stephen King at 3:00 a.m. to inquire if he believed in God.

* Poltergeist (1982).  Real cadavers were used as props in various scenes of Poltergeist and Poltergeist II.

* When a Stranger Calls (1979). Who wanted to babysit after watching this?!

* The Sixth Sense (1999).  Haley Joel Osment got ripped of an Oscar. Amazing acting, uber-creative script, surprise ending. Truly a treat of a film.

* 1408 (2007).  Always liked John Cusack's acting. Always enjoyed Stephen King taking me places I was scared to go. Cusack + King = What's not to like about this film?!

* Silence of the Lambs (1991). The character, Hannibal Lecter, was a composite of 3 real-life serial killers: Ted Bundy, Ed Gein and Gary M. Heidnik.

* The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974).  Despite claims the movie made, the story was NOT true. Director Tobe Hooper defended the lie by saying "the government lied about Vietnam, the oil crisis, and Watergate too."

* Jaws (1975). Not the stuff of typical horror film fare but, at 13-years-old, I was petrified and millions of Americans were afraid to go in the water for a long, l-o-n-g time.

* Salems Lot (1979). Not as good as the book by a long shot, but at least non-readers got the story. I wore a cross 24/7 for months.

* The Others (2001). The delightful twist at the end made it all worthwhile.

* Ghost Story (1981). Haunting at the viewing, haunting for days afterward. A cautionary tale of youthful indiscretion.

* It (1990). You will thank God on bended knee for your comparatively La-La Land childhoods.

* Carrie (1976). A whole new take on the possible consequences of bullying!

Honorable Mentions:,
* War of the Worlds (2005)
* The Blair Witch Project (1999)
* Seven (1995)
* Interview with The Vampire (1974)

The Lady in Bachelor Grove Cemetery

The Bachelor's Grove Cemetery is considered one of the most haunted cemeteries in the United States. Located on the edge of the Rubio Woods Forest Preserve, the abandoned cemetery has played host to over 100 reports of paranormal sightings including apparitions of figures in monks' clothes, unexplained sounds and glowing balls of light. On August 10, 1991, the Ghost Research Society (GRS) was conducting a paranormal investigation inside the Cemetery. Detecting some activity with their ghost-hunting equipment, GRS member Mari Huff shot the above photograph using a high-speed infrared camera. This image of a woman sitting on a tombstone emerged although no one but GRS members were in the cemetery.