The Amityville Horror

The Amityville Horror
source
Author	Jay Anson
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Horror
Publisher	Prentice Hall
Publication date	1977
Media type	Print

The Amityville Horror is a horror novel based on the alleged paranormal experiences of the Lutz family, who claimed to have been terrorized by supernatural forces in their home in Amityville, New York. The novel was written by Jay Anson and published in 1977 by Prentice Hall. The story has been associated with The Amityville House, a Dutch Colonial-style house located at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York, which was previously the site of the DeFeo murders, a horrific crime that was highly publicized in the New York Post and other New York City newspapers, including the New York Daily News and the Wall Street Journal. The novel has been linked to other famous horror authors, such as Stephen King and Clive Barker, who have written about similar themes of paranormal activity and supernatural horror in their works, including The Shining and Hellraiser.

Background

The Amityville house, also known as the Amityville Horror House, was built in 1924 by John Moynahan, a Catholic architect who designed the house for his family. The house was later sold to the DeFeo family, who were Italian-Americans from Brooklyn. The DeFeo family was known to be Catholic and had strong ties to the Catholic Church, including the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Rockville Centre. The house was also located near the St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church and the Amityville Memorial High School, which was attended by Ronald DeFeo Jr., the son of the DeFeo family. The DeFeo family was also associated with other notable Italian-American families, including the Gambino crime family and the Bonanno crime family, who were involved in organized crime in New York City.

The Lutz Family

The Lutz family, consisting of George Lutz and his wife Kathy Lutz, along with their three children, moved into the Amityville House in December 1975. The family claimed to have experienced a series of paranormal events, including moving objects, unexplained noises, and ghostly apparitions, which were similar to those experienced by other families who had lived in the house, including the DeFeo family. The Lutz family was in contact with Ed Warren and Lorraine Warren, paranormal investigators who were also involved in the Perron family case, which was later adapted into the film The Conjuring. The Lutz family also sought the help of Father Ralph Pecoraro, a Catholic priest who performed a blessing on the house, and Father William Francis of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, who was also involved in the exorcism of the house. The Lutz family's experiences were also investigated by Hans Holzer, a paranormal investigator who wrote about the case in his book Murder in Amityville.

The DeFeo Murders

The DeFeo murders occurred on November 13, 1974, when Ronald DeFeo Jr. shot and killed six members of his family, including his parents, George DeFeo and Louise DeFeo, and his siblings, Dawn DeFeo, Allison DeFeo, Marc DeFeo, and John DeFeo. The murders were highly publicized in the New York Post and other New York City newspapers, including the New York Daily News and the Wall Street Journal. The case was investigated by the Suffolk County Police Department and the FBI, and Ronald DeFeo Jr. was later convicted of the murders and sentenced to life in prison. The DeFeo murders were also the subject of several books, including The Amityville Horror and The Amityville Murders, which were written by Jay Anson and Hans Holzer, respectively. The case was also investigated by Dr. James C. Brussel, a forensic psychiatrist who wrote about the case in his book Casebook of a Crime Psychiatrist.

Literary and Film Adaptations

The Amityville Horror has been adapted into several films, including The Amityville Horror and The Amityville Horror, which were directed by Stuart Rosenberg and Andrew Douglas, respectively. The story has also been adapted into several books, including The Amityville Horror and The Amityville Murders, which were written by Jay Anson and Hans Holzer, respectively. The case has also been featured in several documentary films, including The Amityville Horror: The True Story and Amityville: The Haunting, which were produced by The History Channel and A&E, respectively. The story has also been referenced in several other films and television shows, including The Simpsons and Family Guy, which were created by Matt Groening and Seth MacFarlane, respectively.

Investigations and Criticisms

The Amityville Horror case has been the subject of several investigations and criticisms, including those by skeptical investigators who have questioned the validity of the Lutz family's claims. The case has also been investigated by paranormal investigators, including Ed Warren and Lorraine Warren, who have written about the case in their book Ghost Hunters. The case has also been criticized by debunkers, including James Randi and Joe Nickell, who have questioned the validity of the Lutz family's claims and the paranormal activity that was reported in the house. The case has also been the subject of several lawsuits, including one filed by the Lutz family against the publisher of The Amityville Horror, which was settled out of court. The case has also been referenced in several other notable cases, including the Perron family case and the Enfield Poltergeist case, which were investigated by Ed Warren and Lorraine Warren and Guy Lyon Playfair, respectively.

Category:Horror