Amityville: The Awakening
A metafilm where the Amityville legend is fiction.
The 2017 American supernatural horror film *Amityville: The Awakening* was both written and directed by Franck Khalfoun. Its cast includes Bella Thorne, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Cameron Monaghan, Mckenna Grace, Thomas Mann, Taylor Spreitler, Jennifer Morrison, and Kurtwood Smith. As the tenth movie in the Amityville series, it functions as a metafilm: within its story, the 1979 original, all its sequels, and the 2005 remake are fictional movies. The plot centers on teenager Belle Walker, who relocates to 112 Ocean Avenue with her family. They soon become tormented by a demonic entity that uses her brain-dead twin brother James as a host.
Initially announced in May 2011 under the title *Amityville: The Lost Tapes*, the project was meant to be a found-footage film and a standalone entry in the franchise. The studio later abandoned that concept, hiring Khalfoun in early 2012 to write and direct a new version. Filming took place in 2014, but the movie faced multiple release delays. It was eventually made available for free on Google Play on October 12, 2017, and released on DVD in 2018. A limited theatrical release by Dimension Films followed on October 28, 2017.
Worldwide, the film earned $8.4 million. Critics gave it mixed-to-negative reviews, pointing to generic writing, reliance on horror clichés, and excessive jump scares. *Amityville: The Awakening* was the final film distributed by RADiUS-TWC; that company, along with Dimension Films and their parent company The Weinstein Company, shut down on July 16, 2018, following sexual abuse allegations against co-founder Harvey Weinstein.
**Plot**
Teenager Belle Walker moves to 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, Long Island, with her mother Joan, younger sister Juliet, brain-dead twin brother James, and their dog Larry. The family relocated to be near Dr. Ken Milton, a neurologist treating James, who is paralyzed and on life support after an accident. Shortly after moving in, Juliet tells Belle that James has been speaking to her. That night, James flatlines but is mysteriously revived and opens his eyes.
At school, Belle is mocked by classmates for living in the house, which she learns was the site of Ronald DeFeo Jr.’s 1974 mass murder. In her third-floor bedroom, she discovers bloodstains hidden beneath the wallpaper. One evening, Belle invites acquaintances Terrence—an Amityville haunting enthusiast—and Marissa
- release_year
- 2017
- director
- Franck Khalfoun
- genre
- Supernatural horror
- series
- Amityville film series (tenth installment)
- lead_actor
- Bella Thorne
- box_office
- $8.4 million worldwide
- distributor
- Dimension Films
Lore & Background
Originally titled Amityville: The Lost Tapes, the film was announced in May 2011 and conceived as a found-footage style entry co-produced by Dimension Films and Blumhouse Productions. The studio abandoned that idea and hired Franck Khalfoun to write and direct a new draft in early 2012. Filming took place in 2014, with principal photography from April 1 to May 9 in Long Beach, using a full house set built in El Dorado Park. Reshoots in February 2016 further delayed the release.
Reader's Guide
Amityville: The Awakening suffered numerous release delays before finally being released for free on Google Play from October 12 to November 8, 2017, and in a limited theatrical release on October 28, 2017. It grossed $8.4 million worldwide and received mixed-to-negative reviews, with criticism for generic writing, horror clichés, and reliance on jump scares. The film is notable as the last release by distributor RADiUS-TWC, which shut down along with Dimension and The Weinstein Company on July 16, 2018, following sexual abuse allegations against co-founder Harvey Weinstein.
Did You Know?
- The film was originally titled Amityville: The Lost Tapes and conceived as a found-footage film.
- Principal photography took place in Long Beach from April 1 to May 9, 2014.
- The film was released for free on Google Play from October 12 to November 8, 2017.
- It is the last film released by distributor RADiUS-TWC before the company shut down in July 2018.
More in Amityville Horror films 1-24
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