Epix’s Amityville Horror Documentary to Detail the True Story That Inspired the Films

An upcoming documentary, titled The Making of a Haunting: The Amityville Murders, is set to broadcast on Epix. Per Variety, the documentary will explore the real-life story of the house that the Amityville Horror movies were based on.

For those who are unaware, the Amityville Horror franchise was inspired by the terror the Lutz family faced after moving into a house where the previous owner Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his family. The movies themselves were based on Jay Anson’s novel, which shares its title with the first film. The Amityville Horror book was originally released in 1977. Multiple sequels to the novel came out in subsequent years.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

The Lutzes reportedly experienced strange phenomena that might have been supernatural. Like the family, some people believe the ghosts of the victims of the previous owner continued to haunt the home long after their deaths. The family was so disturbed by what they saw, that they left the residence after only 28 days. Before they left, they contacted the Warrens, the paranormal investigators whose cases inspired The Conjuring series.

A 1979 horror classic called The Amityville Horror became a huge success, grossing $86 million on a $4.7 million budget. Its popularity led to nine sequels, as well as a 2005 remake that starred Ryan Reynolds. While fans seemed to love the original, critics were not as impressed. The film has an approval rating of 30% on Rotten Tomatoes. The website’s criical consensus reads, “Dull and disappointing, the best that can be said for The Amityville Horror is that it set a low bar for its many sequels and remakes.”

Arguably, one of the factors that led to the poor reviews was the debate over the accuracy of the Lutz family’s claims. The conversation of whether the house is haunted continues to this day. Critics may not have like the project, but many consumers regard it as a classic of the horror genre.

Now, a documentary will go into details of the house that inspired multiple movies. After Epix’s presentation at the Television Critics Association 2022 winter press tour, The Making of a Haunting: The Amityville Murders, was announced to be in development. The four-part docuseries will explore the events that made the house an icon of horror. B17 Entertainment is producing the show. Executive producers include Lesley Chilcott, Blaine Duncan, Brooklyn Hudson, Amanda Raymond, Rhett Bachner, and Brien Meagher.

Related: 5 Horror Franchises That Should Get Scream’s Reboot Treatment

The Four-Part Docuseries Will Explore the Events That Made the House an Icon of Horror

American International Films

The Making of a Haunting: The Amityville Murders is the latest addition to Epix’s high-quality productions. The channel may not have as much content as its competitors, but it makes up for that with acclaimed shows. One of the highlights is the series Pennyworth, which explores the life of Batman’s loyal butler before the latter started working for the Wayne family. The documentary revolving around Amityville hopes to continue the high bar set by other programs. The series will offer a more realistic look at the house than the many films and books it inspired.

A release date for The Making of a Haunting: The Amityville Murders has not yet been announced.

About The Author

Zachary Pogue
(60 Articles Published)

More
From Zachary Pogue

You can view the original article HERE.