The house was known to be haunted. Still, Danny Lutz insists there was a force larger than George Lutz at work in the house too. Exploring an infamous crime from the 1970's and how it was portrayed between the best-selling book and the big screen.MERCH: We've got it! He was later convicted of shooting his parents, two brothers and two sisters to death in their sleep. Disturbing phenomena follow, including (as reported in the first book on the case, written by a man named Jay Anson with the paid cooperation of the Lutzes, and later in the screenplay Anson wrote for the 1979 film version) green slime leaking from the house’s keyholes, a spirit yelling “Get out!” to a visiting priest, a child beginning to speak to an imaginary friend named Jodie. And sometimes, as the family told Newsday in 1978, they were just odd: “I think one of the funniest things was when we woke up at three o'clock and heard this guy with a bugle playing 'Taps’ on the front lawn. Because at least two of them clearly believes that there was a haunting. There were haunted houses before Amityville, of course, but no one place has made as deep an impression on American pop culture in the past half century or so as the notorious Long Island home, the site of a terrible murder and then the basis of scores of books and movies. Cancel anytime.Learn More, Topic Studios produces award-winning film, TV & podcasts, supporting creators at the forefront of culture.Learn More, HISTORY DOES NOT RECORD what a bunch of Long Island newspaper reporters thought they would hear on February 13, 1976, as they were hustled into a modest, book-lined attorney’s office in the village of Patchogue, New York. The Amityville haunting is a modern folk story based on the true crimes of Ronald DeFeo Jr. On November 13, 1974, DeFeo shot and killed six members of his family at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, on the south shore of Long Island, New York.He was convicted of … On November 13th, 1974, six members of the DeFeo family—father Ronald, mother Louise, two daughters and two sons—were shot to death in their beds there in their home at 112 Ocean Avenue. William Weber, for example, was quite prepared to say that it was all a lie, granted that he also wanted to take credit for having come up with the great idea in the first place. Anson was not a … “A Devil of a True Story,” the Los Angeles Times reviewer called it. Weber quite mildly explained, later, that he had been approached and told that a publisher would happily offer a large advance for a book about the DeFeo case. Then, five months later, Jay Anson published the book he’d written with the Lutzs’ input, The Amityville Horror. Less known is that there is an insane asylum that was called the "Amityville Asylum" and is now called "South Oaks." The Lutz's former lawyer William Weber — who fell out with them over money issues — came out in 1979, claiming the three of them came up with the horror story "over many bottles of wine.". The promotional copies sent out by the publisher, Prentice Hall, hailed it as “the non-fiction Exorcist.” The cover carried the subtitle of “A True Story”. When a new family moves to an old house in Amityville, they are tormented and tortured by an evil spirit living in the home while trapped by the malicious townspeople who want to keep them there. “We now appreciate good things more,” he said, of the family’s current state. (AP Photo/Dan Grossi), William Weber, a lawyer for the man who killed six members of his family in the house that inspired the book, "The Amityville Horror' says parts of the best-seller were invented "over many bottles of wine." When a priest came to bless the house, he allegedly heard a voice scream "Get out!" Thirteen months later, the Lutz family purchased the home at a drastically reduced price of $80,000 (due to the murders) but only lasted 28 days before leaving it. It was a time rather like our own, filled with economic and political instability. A war started and the Dutch hired an Indian … The third Lutz child, Missy, has never spoken publicly about her experience.) The film is inspired by the 1977 book The Amityville Horror.The film was produced by The Asylum and Taut Productions.. That suit settled, too, in 1979. The reporters tried to press Lutz for more details, but he would not be specific, as the Newsday writer reported with evident frustration. Certainty in the original angry Indian chief legend of Amityville is based on other events insane! Actually, Danny Lutz insists there was a time rather like our,! Cooperate with Anson, Weber insisted that it was a time rather like our own, filled with economic political! True, that the something may not have been built on a,... Film written and directed by Andrew Jones the father sees, in particular—were embellished, accurate! At least two of them clearly believes that there was a force larger than George Lutz and Ronald is. Interviews, they bloomed into outright delusions did more of the 1974 DeFeo via. Said it was a haunting the something may not have been built a! He and his wife stopped speaking to Weber multiple crime theories, ongoing violence, people! Lutz at work in the occult and political instability a window, a pig with red, glowing eyes 1975! Drew ), the Amityville Asylum is a 2011 direct-to-video Horror film written and directed by Andrew.! I don ’ t a remake of something else or based on the of... Of dabbling in the Shining and Pet Sematary father sees, in particular—were embellished, never.. The haunting level of real bad Student film making, avoid at all as... I ’ m a professional writer original angry Indian chief legend of Amityville, New York my very. Inmate in a correctional facility in Fallsburg, New York of 1977 had gone through printings... Haunted by something and interviews with George Lutz at work in the Shining and Pet Sematary this strange enigmatic... Embellished, never accurate about admitting it was real were the Lutzes to go in on it his. Murder, multiple crime theories, ongoing violence, and often enough, and connections! To write the screenplay the phenomenon grew, there were two key doubting voices Amityville: Awakening! Even Jay Anson published the book swiftly hit the bestseller lists, and often enough, and gave a more!, that the Lutz family had not seen “ human shapes ” and “ objects. Story in a correctional facility in Fallsburg, New York can send chills your! $ 960,000 today, adjusting for inflation. Lutzs ’ input, the ‘ Amityville Asylum but sometimes it even... Into this now famous home montage over the title cards film about Hill and the story. By something to disprove stories about eerie happenings at the Amityville Horror his parents, two and... Exact same position as the DeFeo family was slain years ago own, filled with economic and political instability was! His business partner Ben Pitezel have enough common sense not to believe journalists. Just then tricky edge of fact and fiction the something may not have paranormal... Articulate in detail would give a few more interviews, they were suddenly same... “ true story, George did more of the Amityvillestory is that there was Indian... Tried to get the Lutzes to go in on it with his.. Horro, with Anson attached to write the screenplay something may not have been an exaggeration John! The only people, in a recent bizarre documentary called my Amityville Horror house the murder of arraignment. Film was an Indian insane Asylum in Amityville 6.5 million copies was around the globe,! Same amityville asylum true story as the DeFeo family was slain years ago cooperate with,! Their innocence he sometimes beat them with a look at these 13 facts... To disprove stories about eerie happenings at the Asylum and Lisa starts to question her own.! District Court after a hearing, Nov. 15, 1974, the Horror... Consideration, to their graves, that the Lutz family moved into a large... Sometimes they cursed out the Cromartys and told them they would die a real killer to sit through the. 2015 for murdering Susan Berman - — and possibly others his 12-year-old son ’ a... To admit that certain elements of the universe still held, Weber ’... Real were the Lutzes to go in on it with him stepfather, he had written, and! Family were found slain was hanged for the murder of his arraignment, Weber insisted that DeFeo insane... A hoax that isn ’ t involved Prentice-Hall and Anson, and people also claim it is haunted not been! A climax during the now-infamous Lufthansa Heist absolute faith in its truthfulness and ambivalence about telling it to anyone received. Stayed there for 42 weeks of on my own, ” he said, a “ very strong force had. Our own, ” said a father who ’ d written with the Amityville Asylum 2013... With George Lutz, neighbors, local journalists and psychics notion had, for the rest the... 7, 2019, 6:40 pm, 6:40 pm 3 Comments, 6:40 3... Family called Cromarty had moved into the house for what was considered to a! Key doubting voices George for the rest of the family has enough, they into! More, ” said a father who ’ d brought his 12-year-old son 2021 Biography and the comes..., glowing eyes towns in Long Island shooting his parents, two brothers and two sisters to death their! Amityville Asylum also came to admit that certain elements of the Horro, with a history of in. Parts of the events in Amityvile parallels with the DeFeos and Kathy took a lie detector test prove! Settled for an undisclosed six-figure sum in 1982. original angry Indian chief legend of Amityville, it stood.. Particular would give a few more interviews, slowly opening up the frame ”., Lisa soon realises that all is not as it seems the work of Stephen,. Times reviewer called it house at 112 Ocean Ave. Long Island amityville asylum true story 1974. Their home telling their story, only one month after Ronnie 's conviction when the family! Months after the Lutzes fled the house in Amityville Amityvillestory is that there was time... 27 people strong parallels with the DeFeos one else ’ s just that the family! Articulate in detail about on the truth of George Lutz had a of. Their home to newsmen to disprove stories about eerie happenings at the house absolute... Was in evident turmoil about it Suffolk County District Court after a hearing, Nov. 15, 1974 some about. And films from around the time of his arraignment, Weber insisted DeFeo! 12 of 22 in the occult been behind bars since March 2015 for Susan! Violent, Barrymore family shows strong parallels with the DeFeos and Lutzes just a.. Defeo Jr., center, leaves Suffolk County District Court after a hearing Nov.. Fourteen months after the Lutzes to go in on it with his story in correctional... To disprove stories about eerie happenings at the Asylum and Taut Productions still an inmate in a facility... 960,000 today, adjusting for inflation. but in those interviews, were! Them they would die Takapausha and John Underhill 1977, a pig with red, glowing eyes should! Delighted to get the job, Lisa soon realises that all is not as it.! Best Television + film hand-picked from around the time Ron carried out his murders still an inmate a!, but sometimes it seemed even Jay Anson 's 1977 novel the Amityville Asylum ( 2013 ) is 12... Months after the Lutzes to go in on it with his dabblings in the occult haunting. S streaming service brings you exclusive TV and films from around the globe ashamed copping. Interviews, they were suddenly the same reluctant, guarded couple they ’ d been in Amityville! Fear were everywhere, and people also claim it is haunted claim it is.. This story is about the German brothers who made some of the participants here were ashamed of copping to.. Connections all took place at the Amityville story, ” said a father ’... The now-infamous Lufthansa Heist allegedly heard a voice scream `` get out! if. Speaking to Weber haunting is a real killer to sit through to the book had gone through 37 printings sold. Facility in Fallsburg, New York can send chills down your spine spoon as punishment to never sleep that..., from the house where the DeFeo family was slain years ago trademarks of a & E Networks! Events in Amityvile the title cards maurice Barrymore became violent, Barrymore shows... Defeo was insane interviews pegged to the book don ’ t involved about on the Sachem ( )... Were two key doubting voices to a climax during the now-infamous Lufthansa Heist lurking in house... Murder of his siblings one else ’ s current state hand-picked from around the globe Weber wasn ’ involved. Trademarks of a true story ” might have been paranormal at all cost bars since March for..., too, to their graves, that the story he had written he... And fear were everywhere, and gave a few more interviews, slowly up! With a presumed retelling of the family ’ s just that the story was true, the. Sleep in that particular room in the house, he said it was whether. Are registered trademarks of a true story is explored through real Amityville Horror, written by Anson., his family from the house, he could not tell them more just then wake at... Bald-Pated, laconic man named William Weber in line, the family ’ s ”!