I revisited The Amityville Horror on Prime Video — and its chilling true story still terrifies
Some horror movies come and go. Others stay with you, the kind that crawl under your skin and leave you checking your hallway lights. The Amityville Horror is one of those films.
Whether you’re a horror fan or just in the mood for a scary movie night, this classic still holds up. Based on supposedly real events, it blends supernatural terror with psychological fear, and that combo makes it especially creepy.
Stream The Amityville Horror on Prime Video.
What’s The Amityville Horror About?
The story follows the Lutz family, George and Kathy, along with their three kids, as they move into a charming house in Amityville, New York. The house looks perfect. It’s big, affordable, and peaceful. But there’s a dark history behind it.
A year earlier, a man murdered his entire family inside the house.
At first, things seem normal. But soon, strange things begin to happen. Doors slam on their own, cold spots appear, and George starts to change. His mood darkens. His behavior becomes unpredictable. It’s not just the house, it’s something inside the house.
The Lutz family begins to fear for their safety… and their sanity.
Inspired by Alleged True Events
One of the things that makes The Amityville Horror so disturbing is that it’s based on real-life claims. The Lutz family’s experience was widely publicized, and while skeptics have questioned how much of it was true, that eerie “based on a true story” label adds a whole new layer of fear.
The original movie came out in 1979, and a well-known remake starring Ryan Reynolds and Melissa George was released in 2005. Both versions dive deep into the idea that a house can hold on to evil, and pass it on.
Why It Still Works Today?
Even decades later, The Amityville Horror still gets under your skin. It’s not about jump scares every minute. It builds slowly, feeding on paranoia and tension. The idea that a happy family could be torn apart by something invisible and unexplainable? That’s pure nightmare fuel.
George’s descent into madness is especially disturbing because it feels so real. The fear doesn’t just come from ghosts, it comes from watching someone you love slowly change into someone you don’t recognize.
The movie also touches on themes like possession, isolation, and how trauma can take root in a place. Whether or not you believe in haunted houses, Amityville makes it feel terrifyingly possible.
How to Watch The Amityville Horror on Prime Video?
You can stream The Amityville Horror on Prime Video, making it easy to watch from the comfort of your home. If you already have an Amazon Prime membership, the movie may be available to watch at no extra cost as part of your subscription, depending on your region and which version of the film you’re looking for.
If you’re not a Prime member yet, you can still get access by signing up for a free 30-day trial, which gives you full access to Prime Video’s entire library, including horror classics like this one. After the trial, a Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. If you’re only interested in the streaming service and not the full Amazon Prime benefits, there’s also a standalone Prime Video plan available for $8.99 per month.
If you’re still browsing, check out what’s new on Prime Video in April 2025 or explore our picks for the best movies to stream right now.