Amityville II: The Possession (1982)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Damiano Damiani

Writers:

Tommy Lee Wallace (screenplay)
Hans Holzer (book)

Release Date:

24 September 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror

Tagline:

If these walls could talk...they would SHRIEK!

Plot:

A family moves into their new home, which proves to be evil, resulting in the demonic possession of the teenage son. Only the local priest can save him.

Plot Keywords:

House | Son | Priest | Evil | Possession

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

James Olson	...	Father Adamsky
Burt Young	...	Anthony Montelli
Rutanya Alda	...	Dolores Montelli
Jack Magner	...	Sonny Montelli
Andrew Prine	...	Father Tom
Diane Franklin	...	Patricia Montelli
Moses Gunn	...	Detective Turner
Ted Ross	...	Mr. Booth, the Lawyer
Erika Katz	...	Jan Montelli
Brent Katz	...	Mark Montelli
Leonardo Cimino	...	Chancellor
Danny Aiello III	...	Removal Man 1
Gilbert Stafford	...	Removal Man 2
Petra Lea	...	Mrs. Greer
Alan Dellay	...	Judge (as Allan Dellay)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

Mexico | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:18 | Netherlands:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 (censored version) | France:-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #26777) | West Germany:16 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Churubusco Studios, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Company:

Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica

Trivia:

A poster from the movie Rocky (1976) hangs on Sonny's wall. Burt Young, who plays Sonny's father, was a costar in the Rocky movies.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Although the story is supposed to be set in 1974, we see a lot of 1982 cars.

Quotes:

Mr. Booth, the Lawyer: [at the Montelli trial] ... Your Honor, it is my intention to prove that Sonny Montelli is a victim of demonic possession - that is, possession by the Devil - and therefore innocent of the charges placed against him.
Judge: Mr. Booth, I admire your originality. If I accept your plea, regardless of verdict, every courtroom in this country would be inundated with pleas of demonic possession. Nobody would be guilty of anything anymore. Quite literally, "The Devil made me do it." You have three days to submit another plea, Mr. Booth.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Witchouse (1999) (V)

Soundtrack:

WHITE OUT

And atmosphere usurps the throne!!

It may lack originality, it is surely inspired by both The Exorcist and Evil Dead(at least the two most obvious.), the familia matra may not be the best actress around, and you may accuse the special-effects team for having butter-fingers in the few instances you get to witness it. But then I ask you all,do you honestly think that this matter at all, when the film,all the way through to the end, positively reeks of brilliant, demonic, negative and cold atmosphere?!! For me(and it should be for every decent horrorfan!) atmosphere is the keyword when it comes down to good horror, and that's why "Exorcist 3", "Woman in Black", "Jacobs Ladder", "Society" etc. are all superb films. And likewise with "Amityville:"The Possession". What is so utterly endearing with it, is the willingness to flush the pestilent flower face of joy and positiveness down the filthy drain, and if it for some nauseating reason should manage to climb up again, down again it shall be trodden!! And what twisted tones to accompany the stomping boots of night?!! Excellence!! Witness simple but superb scenes like the chasing scene up the stairs, the paintbrush honouring the wall with disharmony, the mischievous pounding on the door, the diabolical face of the golden boy,and tell me, tell me that this is not superb, twisted and dark horror?!