The Amityville Horror (2005)★★★☆☆

I liked this movie about as much as I liked the original. Which is to say, I liked it okay.

I forgot that this was another Michael Bay remake until the Platinum Dunes opening logo popped up. And in fact I almost forgot again while I was watching the film, which says something. Right up until the sex scene, which had Michael Bay written all over it.

Aside from that, it’s quite tame compared to some of his other remakes. It stays mostly true to the original film (based on the book, based on the questionably true story) except for a few minor details.

I thought Ryan Reynolds would make me like this one more, but the chemistry between his George Lutz and Melissa George’s Kathy Lutz had nothing on James Brolin and Margot Kidder’s from the original.

I was, however, pleasantly surprised to see a young Chloe Grace Moretz appear as the youngest of the Lutz kids, Chelsea. She’s got a cute smile and I’ve never been let down by a performance of hers.

Overall you could probably watch either this or the original and get the gist of the story. I’m not actually sure which one I’d pick over the other if I had to. So my official recommendation is watch them both. Or neither. Or either.