Amityville II: The possession is a tour de force of taboo breaking horror that, on my very first viewing, took me by surprise at just how chilling it is. The film has a deeply disturbing quality that is missing from many horror films, and everything is played straight, with not a joke in sight. This film has it all. Indiscriminate killing, child abuse, incest (yes, they even went there) demonic possession and all sorts of haunted house goings on to keep the viewer interested. The soundtrack compliments the crazy goings on perfectly, adding yet another dimension to the scares.
The Montelli family, which consists of mother Dolores, father Anthony, elder teenage daughter Patricia, elder son Sonny and two younger children, move into the house they always dreamed of owning. Things start off well, but after a tunnel is discovered, things begin taking a turn for the worse, as Sonny begins behaving differently, and the whole family is effected by a negative energy.
The first thing that can be said about Amityville II is just how hard hitting the film actually is. Child abuse, incest, spousal abuse, indiscriminate murder, this film pushes boundaries, and more often than not, it works to great effect. The family break down in this movie is everything Kubrik's The Shining dreamed it could be.
Of course, the majority of movie fans won't agree, but there is something about this movie that chills me to the bone every time I watch it. It's inexplicable. Perhaps it's because I was bought up in a religious household. The power this film holds really is undeniable.
While the film isn't gory in any way, shape or form, it certainly knows how to get under your skin, using P.O.V shots, typical haunted house scares and a brilliant exorcism to add the the demonic goings on.
If you haven't managed to view this film, I suggest you do as soon as possible. While The Amityville Haunting was a slow burn horror film, the sequel/prequel kicks off right away, and builds with scare after scare, breaking taboo after taboo, until it reaches it's unimaginable climax.
Go view what has to be one of the most powerful demonic possession/haunted house movies since The Exorcist.
Darkest regards......Dani.
