succeeds largely because the performers take the over-the-top material seriously... The film is taut, tense, and filled with the bizarre, unsettling events chronicled in the book." In a 2013 assessment, John Kenneth Muir called The Amityville Horror a "blunt and effective horror film" and discussed author Stephen King's analysis of the film's subtext of financial turmoil. Muir wrote, "If one follows King's lead, it's easy to contextualize The Amityville Horror as a financial nightmare... Similarly, the movie's dialogue constantly references financial matters. "Bills have to be paid," says one character. "The IRS is calling," warns another. 'They'll nickel and dime you to death" is a mantra not just about the bill collectors, perhaps, but a warning about the demons in the house." On Rotten Tomatoes, 31% of 45 surveyed critics gave the film a positive review, and the average rating is 4.8/10. Its 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". Accolades Legal disputes The film resulted in several lawsuits. Film franchise Amityville II: The Possession (1982) Amityville 3-D (1983) Amityville 4: The Evil Escapes (1989) The Amityville Curse (1990) Amityville: It's About Time (1992) Amityville: A New Generation (1993) Amityville Dollhouse (1996) The Amityville Horror (2005) Amityville: The Awakening (2017) The Amityville Murders'' (2018) See also List of ghost films Notes References Bibliography External links 1979 films 1979 horror films 1979 independent films 1970s exploitation films 1970s ghost films 1970s police films 1970s psychological horror films 1970s supernatural horror films 1970s American films American exploitation films American ghost films American haunted house films American independent films American International Pictures films American police films American psychological horror films American supernatural horror films Amityville Horror films Demons in film Fiction about familicide Films about Catholic nuns Films about Catholic priests Films about domestic violence Films about dysfunctional families Films about imaginary friends Films about lookalikes Films about mass murder Films about psychic powers Films about remarriage Films based on American horror novels Films directed by Stuart Rosenberg Films scored by Lalo Schifrin Films set in 1974 Films set in 1975 Films set in Long Island Films set in religious buildings and structures Films shot in Connecticut Films shot in New Jersey Films shot in New York (state) Films shot in Los Angeles Horror films based on actual events Religious horror films