George and Kathy Lutz (Brolin, Kidder) move their family into a charming Long Island home only to discover ominous spirits dominate the joint.

Turns out the malicious vibe stems from a horrible mass slaughter that took place on the premises...and the evil won't stop until it drives the Lutz family to insanity. Or death.

Scream queen Kidder's solid performance and some decent atmosphere buoy this slightly uneven haunted house effort; the 'goin' crazy' sequences eventually mount some tension.

Overall, Amityville plays best on a stormy and thunderous night.

Best thing? Those damn staring windows...

Followed by 1982's sequel Amityville II: The Possession.