The Real Amityville Horror

The Real Amityville Horror discusses the real-life murder events that led to the creation of a book and horror film franchise, as well as the subsequent twist of fate that called the book’s claims into question. In 1974, Ronald DeFeo of Amityville, New York, was found guilty of murdering his entire family: his parents and his four siblings. He claimed the killings were an act of revenge against his abusive father.

After newlywed couple George and Kathy Lutz moved into the house, they claimed to see and hear strange phenomena that suggested it was haunted. Their experiences became the subject of a successful book, The Amityville Horror, which was later adapted into a film. However, two paranormal investigators examined the claims made in the book and identified many contradictions between the story and reality. Nonetheless, the Lutzes continue to defend the veracity of their claims.