It is never quite explained in the context of the film whether this is a prequel, sequel or entirely new version of the Amityville story. No matter. We still have the same house of horrors about to be occupied by a family who, as usual, never think to leave the house once it starts taking on a personality of its own.
Of course, this is not the typical American family. Burt Young, who gives new meaning to the word one-dimensional in his portrait of the father, loves beating the daylights out of his wife and kids. Jack Magner, a screen newcomer saddled with the plum (?) role of the troubled oldest son, begins finding his sister sexually attractive. And Rutanya Alda, who does a lot of screaming as the spineless mother, spends a lot of time praying her problem will go away.
There are actually two films meandering in this mess – one a second-rate horror flick about a family in peril, and another that is a slight variation on the demon-possessed Exorcist theme.
