Buy this at:
The DVD says:
There's no place like home... for blood-curdling horror! James Brolin, Margot Kidder and Academy Award winner Rod Steiger fall prey to the powers of darkness in this terrifying tale of a house possessed by unspeakable evil. One of the most talked-about haunted-house stories of all time, The Amityville Horror will hit you where you live!
Running Time: 114 mins
Region: 2
Ratio: 1.85:1
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Special Features: Introduction and Audio Commentary by Dr. Hans Holzer, Movie Documentary, 2 x History Channel Documentaries, Radio Spots, Sneak Preview of The Amityville Horror Remake, Original Theatrical Trailer.
Certificate: 15
My Opinion:
Wow! Maybe MGM read my review for their previous Region 2 DVD release for The Amityville Horror? Then again, maybe they realised that there are a lot of horror movie fans out there who prefer their DVD's to come with extras. Or maybe it's to cash in on the release of the remake? Anyway, this is an excellent replacement to the single disc, mono sound, extra-less release. This two disk set comes with a great new 5.1 sound mix, which brings the movie to life in your home cinema environment. The picture has also been slightly improved with some minor marks removed and the colour being adjusted. But the biggest improvement has to be that the extras now span 2 discs rather than just being limited to the trailer. The commentary is surprising as it's not the filmmaker's or cast, but a parasychologist who was brought in to report on the strange happenings in the real house. I would have preferred an actor's commentary, but this is still very interesting for those that want to know the real story. And that's also what you get with the two long documentaries from the History Channel, which try to give you a real insight into what actually happened. And if this isn't all good enough, there's a sneak preview of the remake, just to wet your appetitie. It's still not my favourite horror franchise, but this is how all back catalogue films should be released. Hopefully MGM will continue with the good work they've achieved here.
REVIEW EXTRA: Screenshots - May contain spoilers
REVIEW EXTRA: Promotional Picture
REVIEW EXTRA: Promotional Document - A Benchmark Film in the Haunted House Genre
REVIEW EXTRA: Promotional Document - Why Do We Love A Good Scare?
