The Amityville Horror summary

The Haunting Begins

In The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson, we are introduced to the Lutz family, who move into a beautiful, large house in Amityville, New York. The house, however, has a dark history. A year before the Lutz's arrival, Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his entire family in the house. Despite knowing this, the Lutz family, consisting of George, Kathy, and their three children, believe they can make the house their home.

However, strange occurrences begin almost immediately. George, who is a non-believer in the supernatural, starts to experience personality changes. He becomes increasingly irritable and obsessed with the wood stove in the basement. Kathy, on the other hand, starts to have vivid nightmares about the DeFeo murders. The children also report seeing a pair of glowing red eyes peering into their second-floor bedroom.

The House's Dark Past

As the days pass, the Lutz family learns more about the house's dark past. They discover that the house was built on a site where a man named John Ketchum, who was accused of being a witch, was buried alive. They also find out that the house was built using materials salvaged from a house where a man had gone insane and murdered his entire family.

George's behavior becomes increasingly erratic. He starts waking up at 3:15 AM, the same time DeFeo Jr. murdered his family, and begins to hear voices urging him to kill his own family. Despite his growing fear and paranoia, George refuses to leave the house, believing that the evil forces are trying to drive them out.

The House's Malevolent Influence

The Lutz family's experiences in the house become increasingly terrifying. Doors and windows slam shut on their own, the house is plagued by swarms of flies in the middle of winter, and the family is tormented by unseen forces. George's physical appearance starts to change, and he becomes more and more like the previous murderer, Ronald DeFeo Jr.

Desperate for help, the Lutz family seeks the assistance of a priest, Father Mancuso, who had previously blessed the house. However, when Father Mancuso attempts to bless the house again, he is driven out by a disembodied voice commanding him to "Get out!" The Lutz family realizes that the house is beyond help and they need to leave as soon as possible.

The Lutz Family Flees

After only 28 days in the house, the Lutz family flees, leaving behind all their possessions. They never return. The book ends with the Lutz family's escape from the house, but the haunting continues to haunt them. They are plagued by the memories of their time in the house and the fear that the malevolent forces might follow them.

In conclusion, The Amityville Horror is a chilling account of a family's terrifying experiences in a haunted house. Whether you believe in the supernatural or not, the Lutz family's story is a haunting and disturbing tale that will leave you questioning the existence of evil forces beyond our understanding.