16 Comments
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Jeremy's avatar

If AMITYVILLE EMMANUELLE didn’t have the tagline, “The Devil made her do it,” then a major opportunity was missed.

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Ray Banks's avatar

I don't even think there's a character called Emmanuelle in it! I think the sex-obsessed lady in question is a fictional Lutz, which is dancing with litigation at its finest.

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Karloff's avatar

This is the most enjoyable movie review I have ever read. Although, debunking is a more appropriate term. I'm thinking of inflicting my eyes with another viewing, soon, with this review fresh in my mind. I'll let you know how the experiment turns out.

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Ray Banks's avatar

Thank you! I tell you, it was a damned sight more entertaining to vent about it than to watch it. Definitely let me know how you get on with it, and don't let my grumping stop you from enjoying it TOO much.

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Mat Colegate's avatar

My God, Steiger is volcanic in this film. An absolutely extraordinary performance.

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Ray Banks's avatar

He really is, and I'm a little ashamed of using the H-word, but if we go back to the supposed origin - in that "ham" actors were straining for effect, signified by their ever-tight hamstrings - then Steiger is definitely one in his later years. If I'm being charitable, I guess it's because he thought he had to do that little bit more to prove himself. And he is the most entertaining part of the movie, especially when he's raging at Murray Hamilton.

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Mat Colegate's avatar

He's a delirious presence. I remember being really confused by his performance as Napoleon when I encountered it on telly one afternoon when I was a kid. Why does he keep shouting random words? Why is he spitting on everything? Great stuff.

Also, admission time: I actually really enjoy Amityville. Probably something to do with a sweating Brolin in his man pants.

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Ray Banks's avatar

I'm a bore about how Steiger acts Brando out of the cab in On The Waterfront and "is good, actually" in Duck You Sucker! but I have yet to see his Napoleon. I can only imagine it is a towering performance of the little guy.

And yeah: Brolin in his tighty-whities is certainly a look. I think he spends a good 90 minutes just sweating.

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Mat Colegate's avatar

Steiger delivering Napoleon's final speech is a masterclass...

https://youtu.be/EwsS4v2QL-A?si=bHRGwl2W9FcE8X7j

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Ray Banks's avatar

Oh man, I really need to see this.

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Duane Swierczynski's avatar

Brilliant one, Ray.

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Ray Banks's avatar

You flatterer, you.

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Timber Fox's avatar

I never saw Amityville Horror, despite all my childhood friends telling me how scary it was. A lot of its mileage is probably owed to the book cover/movie poster of the "evil house" skull face. I DID get suckered into seeing The Conjuring, because my sister loves horror movies. Goodness, how that movie sucks. I felt terrible once I learned its progeny.

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Ray Banks's avatar

Oh, there's a lot of mileage out of that house, which makes the flies and slamming windows all the less scary. As for The Conjuring, I feel the same way. I appreciate that Wan and co. are huge fans, but it all feels like empty calories to me.

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Reginald Harris's avatar

I am a little sad now - we all believed the Amityville story actually was 'based on actual events'. When I see houses with the curved upper windows, 'It looks like the Amityville House" still crosses my mind. It may have been schlock - but man how it captured the imagination of still impressionable teens.

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Ray Banks's avatar

Aw. If it's any consolation, the house was still the site of a horrible mass murder! And I agree totally about the house - it's up there with the Psycho house in the creepy building stakes.

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