User reviews

A new dimension in ultimate evil has been added to the story to what has probably become the world's most notorious haunted house in America.

A magazine writer's investigation into a séance turns to horror when an abandoned well beneath the basement floor turns out to be the gateway to hell.

This film starred: Tony Roberts, Tess Harper & Meg Ryan

In my opinion this wasn't one of best entries in the Amityville film series, not the worst but no where near the best. It had a bad plot about the gateway to hell being a well in the basement. 93 minutes wasted in my opinion, it had a couple of entertaining scenes but nothing special.

**/***** Poor.

In the house where Sonny slaughtered the Montelli family, the reporter John Baxter (Tony Roberts) and the photographer Melanie (Candy Clark) disclose two charlatans, who cheated the persons pretending they were medium. The broker, who presently owns the house, is having difficulties to sell the mansion due to its fame, and John decides to buy the house by very low price. When he moves to the cursed place, many fatal tragedies happen with the broker, his daughter and his lover Melanie. This movie is very silly and boring. Its greatest attraction in the present day is to see Meg Ryan in the beginning of her career. The Brazilian DVD is a shame: it has a recent picture of Meg Ryan on the cover, and her name is highlighted as if she were the lead actress, showing a total lack of respect of the distributor with the viewers and consumers. My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): `Amityville 3D'

Surprisingly, this second sequel to the supposedly fact based thriller "The Amityville Horror" is a worthy installment in the otherwise wretched series of shockers. Richard Fleischer, a Hollywood veteran whose directorial credits include such diverse fare as "The Vikings" and "The Boston Strangler," brings a skill to the proceedings that were conspicuously absent from the original film, which was more notable for the laughably bad performances of James Brolin and Rod Steiger than it was for inducing chills. The performances in "Amityville 3-D," or "Amityville: the Demon" as it is known on television, didn't deserve Oscar consideration, but they are professional and, in the case of Candy Clark's suspicious photographer, almost inspired.

The movie opens in typical haunted house fashion: a seance is being held in the notorious Long Island house where, in earlier films, toilets backed up (shudder!), marching bands played in the dead of night (shudder again!), and a giant red-eyed pig named Jody roamed the premises and engaged in small talk with children (Babe in an early role?). The seance produces mysterious apparitions and odd noises, all of which are exposed by two of the participants--a reporter and his photographer-- as a hoax. The realtor denies any involvement in the souped-up spookiness and explains to the reporter (Tony Roberts on holiday from Woody Allen's repertory company) that the house's infamous reputation is such that he's willing to sell it at a bargain rate. Roberts, newly divorced and eager for a peaceful environment in which to write his great American novel, buys it, all the while ignoring the warnings of his less courageous colleague, the delightful Miss Clark.

Roberts, a stubborn type who sneers at the supernatural, moves in and continues his sneering even as anyone who sets foot in the house experiences terror and, ultimately, death. But, dumbo that he is, he continues to pooh-pooh any notions that the house is cursed.

Some talented performers are on view in this film, and if not for their admirable abilities to keep a straight face, the movie would be a lot funnier than it's supposed to be and sometimes is. Roberts is his usual non-plussed self, refusing to accept any supernatural explanations for the bizarre circumstances taking place around him.

The special-effects are adequate, but they do the trick, and probably worked better in 3D, which is the way the film was presented theatrically. The process is evident in the use of so many scenes in which hands are extended toward the camera and, in one scene, a frisbee is tossed directly at the audience.

"Amityville 3D" will never take its place beside the greats of the horror genre, but neither will its two predecessors. However, unlike those failed shockers, number 3 succeeds on its own modest terms, providing, amid the occasional unintended chuckle, a few moments of genuine suspense and a thrill or two. It's a satisfying spook show on the same level as the William Castle flicks of the late 50s and early 60s ("The Tingler," "House on Haunted Hill," et al).

Magazine writer John Baxter (Tony Roberts) and his partner Melanie (Candy Clark) expose a fake psychic racket operating in the Amityville house. Being recently divorced and needing a new house, John decides to buy the place. He gets a good deal in exchange for keeping the real estate agent, who knew about fake psychics, out of the story. John is a disbeliever and skeptic of supernatural phenomenon so he's not worried about the house's history. Once he moves in, of course, strange things start happening.

Amityville 3-D has a bad reputation and most of it is deserved. The plot is tiresome and the scares are often laughable. Still, I can't help but enjoy it on some guilty pleasure level. Tony Roberts is a stiff lead. He reminds me of a less charismatic Ron Perlman. Yet there's something fascinating about watching this guy work. Maybe it's the hair. Or maybe it's that he clearly believes he is above the material. Lori Loughlin makes her film debut as his daughter. She doesn't get a lot to do but she's good enough so that you wouldn't automatically assume this was her first movie. Meg Ryan (!) plays her friend in one of Meg's early film roles. I was a little worried after Amityville II that we'd get some inappropriate sexual action between Tony Roberts and Meg Ryan or, worse yet, Roberts and Lori Loughlin. But thankfully nobody has sex with Tony Roberts. The often awful Candy Clark rounds out the main cast. She's up to her usual scenery chewing so everybody grab a seat. The best performances would come from Tess Harper as the ex-wife and Robert Joy as a paranormal investigator.

Perhaps the most amusing change to the Amityville series here comes from the fact the "ghosts" can attack someone even if they are miles away from the house. It's silly but allows for some enjoyable shock scenes. Look, this isn't a great movie. It isn't even a good one, really. But it still entertains in a so-bad-it's-good way. If you're looking for something like that, awesome! Here you go. But if you want something you can seriously be scared by, look elsewhere.

After watching 'Possession' (which was surprisingly decent), I prepared to watch the second sequel of the franchise and this one was a little lacking. The big draw cards were obvious… the novelty of 3D effects (which seemed to be a big thing around this period) and at the time a virtually unknown Meg Ryan. Well too bad I wasn't watching it in 3D and Ryan (while memorable) is quite lesser character to the scheme of things. So what's there to like? Hard to really pin point, as when you try to draw good points, there's something else to counter-balance it.

The story is kind of interesting (with it's scientific and skeptical reactions with a talkative script); but remains quite disjointed (made of set-pieces and ideas we've seen all before) and the lack of total cohesion becomes quite stodgy. By the end it doesn't show faith in its cluttered story becoming unsatisfying and succumbing to cheesiness (lookout for eccentrically unexplainable climax dogged with dodgy effects), after slowly grinding away with well placed touches of suspense and jolts. But it didn't entirely have the venom in its shocks, but an unnerving atmosphere still engulfed the Amityville house and the stormy score erratically punched the cues. A respectable cast featuring the likes of Tony Roberts, Candy Clark, Tess Harper and Robert Joy work their butts off to invoke something out their characters, but no one is terribly likable… with maybe the exception of Clark's character. Director Richard Fleischer (who has some fine films behind him) never draws anything in the way of style or suffocation through an effective backdrop, instead letting a downbeat vibe grow and the execution for most part is plainly devised.

Re-cycled and blotchy, but mildly amusing haunted house enterprise.

There must have been a law in the 1980's that stated that if you are to make a third film to a set of horror movies you must make them in 3-d as this was one of them, along with other such fine films as Jaws 3-D and Friday the 13th part III in 3-D. Sad to say, but I enjoyed all these movies even though I know in my heart of heart they were all bad movies. However, just because a movie is bad does not make it non-entertaining. Well at least to me it does not...perhaps to a more mainstream viewer, I admit I am a little more offbeat than most people to say the least. This story has a guy moving into the Amityville house for whatever reasons after he proves this one little group of people are fake psychics. Through a series of events though he begins to find out just how real the horrors are in the house that has had cast evil upon all those who lived there. I have to say the movie is not as graphic as the second movie, but it has a lot more to it than the first movie in the ways of scares and such and it has a nice conclusion too. Still the movie has to many 3-D moments too to be a really good movie. You know the scenes, pointless scenes where they aim something directly at the camera and such. Still, the movie runs at a fast clip and is entertaining to watch, plus you get to see a young Meg Ryan in one of her first roles.

Richard Fleischer never directed a truly bad movie. He always stretches for originality and his films are so different one from the other. I think this one is highly underrated. If you watch it with an open mind and do not expect it all to make perfect sense you may be surprised about how much you can enjoy it. The 3 D approach gives us some very interesting perspective shots. The dialogues are well written and develop some intriguing ideas. There are echoes of Hitchcock in human/animals interaction. Also some of the scenes could have inspired the Final Destination franchise. There are some very skeptical characters, and that gives the film more credibility. As a curiosity factor, we have a very young Meg Ryan in a funny role. However, I must say: the ending is a little over the top, too absurd for it's own sake. It is like the movie suddenly becomes a total guilty pleasure. But, hey, that is not a bad thing if you enjoy campy, goofy fun. Simply adjust your mind frame for a sudden change of mood and go along for the ride. I have been postponing to watch this one because of the bad ratings and reviews here on Imdb, but today I thought of giving it a chance because I love the director's filmography. I could not be more pleased to acknowledge that Richard Fleischer has not disappointed me yet. Ignore the ratings, take the risk and judge for yourself. This a decent haunted house story with interesting ideas and creative concepts. It tried to do something different and that is always commendable.

Probably the best movie of the series, I think. Okay, that's not saying much, but it's actually quite enjoyable. And probably the strongest, plot wise.

A magazine writer who happens to debunk psychics ends up buying the infamous house for cheap, blackmailing the current owner (a realtor, who is worried about his reputation, he had leased the house to two fake pyschics). And wackiness ensues. But it's not over the top at first, more general creepiness. There's nothing really special effect wise until the end, at which it does get a bit silly, but it's quite a finish.

It was originally in 3-D, and so you see a lot of shots that were intended to capitalize on this - frisbees thrown at the camera, flying swordfish, etc.

Also notable about this movie, it's the source for a quote frequently sampled by My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult.

This is not like the horror movies that were coming out around the time this was released. Everyone says how bad it is, but if this were made in the sixties, it would be one of the greatest horror movies of all time. It has awful special effects, but it contains ideas, like most good movies should. I suggest you rent, or even buy it if you stumble across a copy.

Amityville 3D is not a complete bust in any sense of the imagination. Of course, watching on you 'telly' the 3D stuff is diminished but,even so, the real redeeming quality of this flick is that we get to see a young Meg Ryan and Lori Loughlin before fame and television sitcom taints them. It is refreshing to watch them in this pristine early stage.

There is one scene in which they are in the evil house with some teenage boys. The group gathers on the floor around a set of cards formed in a Quija sort of configuration. But, at the same time, there was a spin the bottle effect. The scene is alluring and in the midst of the tension, a mix of sexual and fear, a bit of Ryan's acting charm shines. Don't miss this because it is tucked away in a slow moving 3D movie, which ain't really all that bad.

Candy Clark of American Pie fame is in the movie as well and does a good job as a nonbeliever who finally comes around to see the darkside.

Another plus of this movie is there wasn't a lot of blood and guts. Perhaps this is why it is receiving the low ratings. Gore doesn't make a horror movie.

Finally, this was a 3D film and the payoff in the end is good. There is even a Hitchcockian moment at the end with one 3D effect that gave me a bit of a thrill and then a chuckle after.

The movie is far from a bust. Watch it and remember the context in which it was shot. Look for the gems. I believe they exist in every work of art, movies, books, paintings, etc.

Such a gem to find her and young Lori Loughling in a scary movie. Even if the movie isn't remotely scary! On a scare level the movie gets a 1.5 out of 10! On a level of star studded cast and bearable movie to watch..... 5 out of 10. Meg Ryan truly was a cutie pie!!!!!

After the somewhat controversial second Amityville movie, it was perhaps a surprise another sequel followed so quickly, but there was a 3D trend to jump on, so off we go!

It's actually quite a novel setup, following reporter John Baxter (Tony Roberts) who, along with a team including Parapsychologist Dr West (Robert Joy) specialises in uncovering paranormal hoaxes. The movie opens with him exposing a fake in the Amityville house, leading to the tenants being evicted and the house empty. As such the realtor (John Harkins) offers him the place for peanuts, and being a professional sceptic the house's nasty reputation doesn't phase him. As spooky incidents in and around the property pile up, will he maintain his defiance? And what is with that spooky well in the basement?

I liked the setup, it certainly makes a slight change from the previous two entries protagonist families. One thing I find interesting about the Amityville series is how no 2 movies feel the same, but unfortunately the one unifying factor between the first 3 is how disjointed they feel. This starts off better, but quickly falls into the familiar trap, with Baxter's teenage daughter Susan (Lori Loughlin) and her friend Lisa (Meg Ryan) briefly seeming to take centre stage. Even the deaths in the movie have no real 'theme' or logic - the car death is 1. Nonsensical 2. Nowhere near the house. We briefly lurch into Poltergeist-esque territory at one stage before an ending that makes no real sense, but does feature a pretty cool looking demon.

In terms of acting, it's a step up from part 2, I mean I've seen a lot of the cast in other movies, and most of them are at least workable. I doubt Meg Ryan talks about this one much.

In the pantheon of Amityville movies, I actually find this one of the more enjoyable entries. That's a liberal use of 'enjoyable' though as a lot of these movies are dreadful. This one is watchable, though I'm not sure I'd go as far as recommending it.

Okay - Amityville 3-D will not go down as one of the scariest films of all time. Not even one of the best. However, if you use your imagination and complete the 3-D effects in the film, it is a very fun time. Imagine the pipe shattering the car window coming through your TV screen. The spit of the old woman flying out at you. The boom mike ready to take your next words and amplify them through the house. Watch it again, and pay special attention to when the 3-D effects appear - and have fun with them. Also, a special acting nod goes to the branch at the beginning - scratching the camera screen, even when there's not a tree around. Now, that's acting!

John Baxter is an experienced journalist and tries to get to the bottom of the scary myths. His doubts about the horror stories surrounding his house soon disappear as horrific incidents occur. Ultimately, John and his family find themselves increasingly in mortal danger. People try to use parapsychological methods to find out about the dark secret that lies hidden in the walls. The dark suspicion that there is a gate to hell hidden in the basement of the house seems to be true...

The first Amityville film is quite menacing and tense, and this 3rd film in the franchise doesn't match that one's intensity, however it's not bad, maybe a little slow and flat in places, but there's some tense moments, good acting and FX - nothing amazing, but watchable enough.