I was born and raised in Wilkes-Barre, PA. I was in high school when this was going on. There was a story in the local papers like everyday. It was so weird. Some believed the Smurls and some, of course, did not. Personally, I believed them for the most part. Why would anyone subject themselves with the kind of ridicule they had to endure? Not to mention my personal experiences with the supernatural (which are stories within themselves). This movie may not be a very good movie (however, I wouldn't say it was bad either), but it was frightening to me, because I was relatively close to the true story. One of my best friends lives in West Pittston, in fact the next street over from where the Smurls once lived. Although I didn't know the Smurls personally, my friend did. She used to be good friends with the oldest daughter and went to high school with her. My friend had told me stories about their house that she remembered from before it became public knowledge. She had been over the house many a time. She claims to have witnessed some strange goings on there, however nothing major. Some strange things even allegedly went on at her house after she was over there. As to how much truth there is to the Smurls' claims, I don't really know. As far as the movie is concerned, it's not great, but not half bad for a TV movie. It was spooky whether or not one was close to the actual events or not. As I've heard many Northeast Pennsylvanians complain about how they mispronounced Wilkes-Barre; that is one thing that makes me squirm probably more than anything else in the film. I realize for people living anywhere else, they would not know..but if your making a film revolving around any city, you'd think the filmmakers would make an effort to get it right. I've heard people from the area pronounce it different ways, but not "Wilkes-Bar"! "Wilkes-BERRY" (most common) or Wilkes-Bear-Ah..even Wilkes-BEAR. It may seem trivial, but it's rather cringeworthy to the natives of the area. And the set they used; they made it look like some 'happy-swell-meadows' neighborhood. It looks nothing like that...it's much more urban. All the houses are close together. I do realize that having room to shoot is a factor in making a movie, but this was way more suburban than it was. There was one night just a few years ago, I drove past the old Smurl house to show some out of area friends. That night after I got home, the lamp in the room I was staying in at my parents house just started flickering out of nowhere. My father checked it out but found nothing wrong with the lamp or the circuit. Qhite bizarre. One thing that sticks in my mind about this movie is the fact that they had the same pattern of sheets that I do!!! Freaky!!!! Overall, this movie was far from a great ghost story flick, but it was spooky, and I may only feel that way, because I was in that area when these things were allegedly happening. That's why I say, "I guess you had to be there".
77 Reviews
Spirit-tease.
lost-in-limbo29 May 2008
Straight-to-TV, inspired by true events hokum
well that's what I thought I was getting myself into. However this dramatised case is a surprisingly eerie, bizarre and downplayed supernatural case that can get under our skin because the actual performances (the Smurls family) are sympathetically portrayed. The normal plot mechanics of the haunted house sub-genre are evident, and the atmosphere isn't particularly striking as it hangs there. You might think that if you see one, you've seen them all. But the predictable material does get more compelling further down the track, before coming to an unfulfilled abrupt conclusion that wraps it up. Everything (from the performances to the script) is done straight-face, with very little in the way of hysteria and humour. Patchy, but it works for most part. It heavily relies on story and mood, than say big special effects and lashing thrills. Although there's something just spooky about those reappearing spirit manifestations. Sally Kirkland and Jeffery DeMunn are capably good in the lead roles of Janet and Jack Smurl. Robert Mandel's crisply well-judged direction and Richard Bellis' hovering score added to the above-average production. I see plenty of jabs about the slow, ponderous pace, but I didn't feel it was that sluggish. Far from it. Slow, but not dull.
Not exactly Poltergeist, but it's good
Falcon-514 January 2000
Fairly good acting with well done special effects and a very good story. The story is about 3 (spirits/ghosts) and 1 demon trying to break up a family. The story claims to be fact based except for a few time frames. You need to see the end of the movie and read the follow up notes to understand what happens where the film leaves off. If you where expecting the Poltergeist you will not find anything quite that intense, but fact is stranger than fiction, and this is based on fact. You may have trouble sleeping after seeing this one.
true story
aquariusrose46 June 2006
My boss is actually the niece of the Smurl famiy. Today at work the fact that it's 6/6/06 came up and we were discussing scary movies, and she mentioned that there was a book and movie about a haunted house in her family. She mentioned the name and I looked it up online and brought up the story here: http://www.warrens.net/smurl.htm We sat there and read it and she kept adding things to what that website said, about how she had also experienced weird things in the house as a child when she'd go to visit. She was listing off names before I even read them, and events before I read them- then when we looked at the pictures, she was telling us where rooms were, etc... so for any of you "non believers"- believe it, because it's a true story.
The Smurl Saga
sol-kay11 August 2005
**SPOILERS** After they were flooded out because because of the winds and rains of Hurricane Agnas the Smurl's, Jack & Janet, together with their three children and in laws moved into a new home in Pittston Pa. and almost from the first day strange things began happening to them. Noises objects moving around and disappearing even strange forms appearing out of nowhere and then moving all over the house. This made the family feel that the house was haunted by something or some one that lived there previously.
The eerie events in the house became so nerve racking that Janat went to see the Wallaces who specialize in investigating haunted houses. After a thorough investigation the Wallace's tell the startled Smurl family members that their home is haunted by demonic forces and that only a sanctioned exorcism by the Church can force these evil spirits out.Trying to get the church to sanction an exorcism is better said then done since the Catholic Church hasn't been in the business of exorcisms for almost one hundred years.
Based on a true story that states at the end of the movie that after a church sanctioned exorcism in 1989 of the Smurl home. This after they were driven out by the forces of evil, and the hundreds of curiosity seekers and news reporters, from their old home in Pittston the evil sprites that haunted them were finally gone for ever. That statement is a little hard to take since the movie "The Haunted" was filmed in 1990 and released a year later in 1991! How were the movie makers so sure that the Smurl's were never bothered by these evil entities again? Since when is two year considered to be ever again? Couldn't they, the makers of the movie have waited at least ten years to make the movie about the Smrul's troubles? If by then nothing happened to them to make that statement?
Among all the people trying to help the Smurl's get rid of the evil spirits out of there home the most ridicules was Father Kent. Coming on the scene late in the film Father Kent walks right through the hundreds of reporters and townspeople camped outside the Smurl's home as if he were Moses parting the Red Sea and leading the Israelites across it to dry land. You would have thought, like the Smurl's did, that he was going to put an end to the evil sprites who've been terrorizing them all throughout the movie. But all Father Kent did was spend a few days at the Smurl house, all expenses paid, and then just as soon as he came on the scene he disappears into the night? I was wondering if this father Kent was nothing more then a con-man trying to get a free meal, or meals, and a few night at a motel without paying. Then him leaving as soon as he could before the Smurl's realized that he was a fraud and had him thrown out of their home.
I have to say that the special effects in the "The Haunted" were pretty good for a made for TV movie. With a harrowing scene where Jack was attacked and possibly raped by this demon who kept changing it's appearance so often that it seemed that it couldn't make up it's mind of what face to put on.
The eerie events in the house became so nerve racking that Janat went to see the Wallaces who specialize in investigating haunted houses. After a thorough investigation the Wallace's tell the startled Smurl family members that their home is haunted by demonic forces and that only a sanctioned exorcism by the Church can force these evil spirits out.Trying to get the church to sanction an exorcism is better said then done since the Catholic Church hasn't been in the business of exorcisms for almost one hundred years.
Based on a true story that states at the end of the movie that after a church sanctioned exorcism in 1989 of the Smurl home. This after they were driven out by the forces of evil, and the hundreds of curiosity seekers and news reporters, from their old home in Pittston the evil sprites that haunted them were finally gone for ever. That statement is a little hard to take since the movie "The Haunted" was filmed in 1990 and released a year later in 1991! How were the movie makers so sure that the Smurl's were never bothered by these evil entities again? Since when is two year considered to be ever again? Couldn't they, the makers of the movie have waited at least ten years to make the movie about the Smrul's troubles? If by then nothing happened to them to make that statement?
Among all the people trying to help the Smurl's get rid of the evil spirits out of there home the most ridicules was Father Kent. Coming on the scene late in the film Father Kent walks right through the hundreds of reporters and townspeople camped outside the Smurl's home as if he were Moses parting the Red Sea and leading the Israelites across it to dry land. You would have thought, like the Smurl's did, that he was going to put an end to the evil sprites who've been terrorizing them all throughout the movie. But all Father Kent did was spend a few days at the Smurl house, all expenses paid, and then just as soon as he came on the scene he disappears into the night? I was wondering if this father Kent was nothing more then a con-man trying to get a free meal, or meals, and a few night at a motel without paying. Then him leaving as soon as he could before the Smurl's realized that he was a fraud and had him thrown out of their home.
I have to say that the special effects in the "The Haunted" were pretty good for a made for TV movie. With a harrowing scene where Jack was attacked and possibly raped by this demon who kept changing it's appearance so often that it seemed that it couldn't make up it's mind of what face to put on.
Pretty Good Ghost Story
Rainey-Dawn10 September 2019
Pretty good ghost story & is worth watching if you like this sorta thing but it's nothing new to see - your typical "ghost story": They move into a new place, the haunting starts slow then builds up to getting more violent, priest gets called in to bless the place which makes the ghosts/demons more angry and then they move out in the end.
7/10
7/10
Creepy, But Slow TV Chiller
gracehenson-307904 October 2020
Sally Kirkland stars as Janet Smurl, a devout Catholic housewife who moves into a duplex with her husband, her children, and her husband's parents who are getting on in years. Their first few years go by mostly without incident until Janet starts hearing strange voices and feeling phantom hands molesting her as she tries to sleep at night.
After convincing her husband that there's something very wrong here, she tries to get her church to help, but they can't do anything but bless this house. At her wits end, she hires Ed and Lorraine Warren, a pair of demonologists, to break whatever has cursed their home.
Although it's shot in that typical, flat TV movie way, The Haunted wisely starts things off slowly and with a good degree of subtlety. The first few appearances by the ghosts in the Smurl home are creepy and unnerving, putting the audience on edge. It's small things like a missing hammer or tape dispenser that disappear and end up in strange places or a bizarre stain on the wall that won't allow itself to be covered up by paint.
The film's frights peak with a really terrifying sequence where the Smurl patriarch is attacked by a manifestation while he's alone watching TV. After this moment, the film can't help but go downhill a bit and it ends up just like most other haunted house movies with the saviors must come in and try to exorcise the home of demons and save the family.
The build up is still so excellent that I'd have to recommend this one to fans of ghost/demon movies.
After convincing her husband that there's something very wrong here, she tries to get her church to help, but they can't do anything but bless this house. At her wits end, she hires Ed and Lorraine Warren, a pair of demonologists, to break whatever has cursed their home.
Although it's shot in that typical, flat TV movie way, The Haunted wisely starts things off slowly and with a good degree of subtlety. The first few appearances by the ghosts in the Smurl home are creepy and unnerving, putting the audience on edge. It's small things like a missing hammer or tape dispenser that disappear and end up in strange places or a bizarre stain on the wall that won't allow itself to be covered up by paint.
The film's frights peak with a really terrifying sequence where the Smurl patriarch is attacked by a manifestation while he's alone watching TV. After this moment, the film can't help but go downhill a bit and it ends up just like most other haunted house movies with the saviors must come in and try to exorcise the home of demons and save the family.
The build up is still so excellent that I'd have to recommend this one to fans of ghost/demon movies.
"Maybe you've been watching too many of those horror movies." Dull as dishwater.
poolandrews11 March 2006
Warning: Spoilers
The Haunted starts with a load of scrolling text that claims the film is based on true events blah, blah, blah you know the sort of thing. It's 'Halloween 1955' & Janet Smurl (Sally Kirkland) remembers her childhood & the spooky stories that surround a house in her town. Jump forward to 'August 1975', Janet & her husband Jack (Jeffrey DeMunn) their two young daughters & Jack's Mum & Dad Mary (Louise Latham) & John (George Wallace) move into that very same house. At first things go well except for a few minor harmless unexplained occurrences. Now jump forward to 'March 1985' when the real trouble begins, Janet has had a further two daughters but things take a sinister turn for the worse. Janet begins to hear voices, she sees a ghost, electrical fires & all sorts of paranormal phenomena that gradually gets more & more threatening. The Smurl's seek help from the Church but they refuse to perform an exorcism, then they turn to psychic detectives & finally the press in a desperate attempt to rid their house of the ghosts & stop the family from being driven apart.
Directed by Robert Mandel I thought The Haunted was a dull supernatural horror film. The script by Darrah Cloud is based on a book co-written by Janet & Jack Smurl (probably the real ones!) & offers nothing new or exciting to the haunted house horror sub-genre, one of my least favourite type's of horror films. I've always found these type's of films really dull & predictable, I mean people hearing sinister voices, things opening & closing on their own, lights exploding & lots of boring melodramatics involving the break down of a family unit, it's all here, it hardly gets the pulse racing & The Haunted does nothing to distinguish itself from loads of other boring haunted house tales. The origins of the ghosts are almost left totally unexplained as is the throwaway line that puberty (the two daughters grow up which is why it takes 10 years before the serious stuff starts to kick in) in someway gives the spirits their powers & you can't help but feel if they had just moved it would have saved a lot of trouble & emotional anguish on their parts! Having said that I suppose on a certain level it's watchable, the character's are OK, it moves along at a sedate pace but it's never excruciatingly boring & the supernatural activity is not too overblown or silly. The Haunted does what it sets out to do I suppose, it's far from the best or most exciting film ever but I've seen worse & I can't really criticize any specific part of it other than personally didn't really like it. Average at best.
Director Mandel turns in a really lifeless film, it's bland, forgettable, flat, does not have one single scary scene in it & lacks any sort of atmosphere. The house chosen is just so ordinary & the film never builds or sustains any sort of tension or threat. The Haunted feels more like a family drama/soap opera as much as it does a horror, since I was hoping for a horror I can't say anything else other than I was disappointed by it.
Technically this made-for-TV film lives up to that billing, the whole film feels & looks like the cheap TV film that it most definitely is. It's competently made & that's the best thing I say say about it, just don't expect a visual treat! The acting was decent enough but I don't particularly remember anyone from it in either a positive or negative way.
The Haunted is an adequate ghost film, it didn't do anything for me but I will concede that maybe there is an audience for a film such as this out there, somewhere. If you like dull soap opera melodramatics in your films then The Haunted is for you, if however you like decent horror, atmosphere, scares & a bit of excitement then I suggest that The Haunted most definitely isn't for you.
Directed by Robert Mandel I thought The Haunted was a dull supernatural horror film. The script by Darrah Cloud is based on a book co-written by Janet & Jack Smurl (probably the real ones!) & offers nothing new or exciting to the haunted house horror sub-genre, one of my least favourite type's of horror films. I've always found these type's of films really dull & predictable, I mean people hearing sinister voices, things opening & closing on their own, lights exploding & lots of boring melodramatics involving the break down of a family unit, it's all here, it hardly gets the pulse racing & The Haunted does nothing to distinguish itself from loads of other boring haunted house tales. The origins of the ghosts are almost left totally unexplained as is the throwaway line that puberty (the two daughters grow up which is why it takes 10 years before the serious stuff starts to kick in) in someway gives the spirits their powers & you can't help but feel if they had just moved it would have saved a lot of trouble & emotional anguish on their parts! Having said that I suppose on a certain level it's watchable, the character's are OK, it moves along at a sedate pace but it's never excruciatingly boring & the supernatural activity is not too overblown or silly. The Haunted does what it sets out to do I suppose, it's far from the best or most exciting film ever but I've seen worse & I can't really criticize any specific part of it other than personally didn't really like it. Average at best.
Director Mandel turns in a really lifeless film, it's bland, forgettable, flat, does not have one single scary scene in it & lacks any sort of atmosphere. The house chosen is just so ordinary & the film never builds or sustains any sort of tension or threat. The Haunted feels more like a family drama/soap opera as much as it does a horror, since I was hoping for a horror I can't say anything else other than I was disappointed by it.
Technically this made-for-TV film lives up to that billing, the whole film feels & looks like the cheap TV film that it most definitely is. It's competently made & that's the best thing I say say about it, just don't expect a visual treat! The acting was decent enough but I don't particularly remember anyone from it in either a positive or negative way.
The Haunted is an adequate ghost film, it didn't do anything for me but I will concede that maybe there is an audience for a film such as this out there, somewhere. If you like dull soap opera melodramatics in your films then The Haunted is for you, if however you like decent horror, atmosphere, scares & a bit of excitement then I suggest that The Haunted most definitely isn't for you.
excellent tv movie
Keyser Soze-1715 November 2000
The Haunted is probably the only tv movie that wasn't terrible. In fact, it's one of my favourite movies, period. The plot is simple (and TRUE). The Smurl family movies into a duplex on chase street, and strange things start happening (a hammer disappears, dripping water, whispering etc.), and the family disregards it as nothing. And it is nothing compared to what happens later on. The main focus of the haunting activity is Janet (played by Sally Kirkland), who is looked at funny after she voices her theory that there may be ghosts in the house. Once they learn (from demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren) that 3 spirits and a demon infest their house, that's when the real terror begins, and at the risk of revealing too much, I'll stop there. I first saw this movie when it came out in 1991, and it scared the hell out of me (I was only 10 at the time), but for years I was waiting for it to come back on tv. when it finally did, I still loved it. This is a movie I wish they'd air on tv more often, and I still can't wait till it comes on again. Don't be expecting a big budget House on Haunted Hill or The Haunting remake with this one though, it moves more along the lines of The Changeling, The Blair Witch Project, and the original The Haunting. By that i mean, you rarely 'see' the visitors, but just mostly the things they do. This is an effective horror method that's hardly used, but believe me, it works. Unless you're into garbage like Urban Legend, you should find The Haunted an excellent movie, with good acting, and great scares.
Paranormal activity in a duplex
trepessa30 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I have watched this movie many times but I haven't read the book this is based upon. Even though this is a TV movie it was done tastefully. What did bother me about it was a couple of things. First, I knew the Warrens were fakes. I know people in the field who knew relatives of theirs is all I will say but for the sake of the movie, I guess that part doesn't matter. Those that believe they are perfectly viable, more power to you. The other thing is, if this family was actually Catholic, the Lord's Prayer ends at "Evil" and does not go on to "the power and glory forever" line. They wouldn't have said that part. It was added later during the Reformation and is not in original writings. Catholics, and these were supposed to be devout, don't say that part. The priest did not know how to pronounce the Latin words. Do I? Yes I had two years of Latin. They needed to do more basic research instead of assuming all say the Lord's Prayer the same way and into how Latin is pronounced. All words starting with a V are pronounced like a W and Cs are hard like K. I know in some places where they still use the Latin, they have Italianized it but that is incorrect technically.
The movie is very well put together and does have some scare factor but they spent too much time showing the mother constantly smoking. It is an addiction she should have stopped due to the nature of what was going on in her household not to mention health issues. Trust me, it was an important aspect when you know anything dealing with the paranormal. As for the rape of the father, that is what they call "The Hag" and those not familiar with folklore and/or the paranormal wouldn't have known. They could have brought that out but they didn't. Over all if you want a light scare and you believe this is even remotely true, which I do not, at least as shown in the movie, then it will entertain you.
The movie is very well put together and does have some scare factor but they spent too much time showing the mother constantly smoking. It is an addiction she should have stopped due to the nature of what was going on in her household not to mention health issues. Trust me, it was an important aspect when you know anything dealing with the paranormal. As for the rape of the father, that is what they call "The Hag" and those not familiar with folklore and/or the paranormal wouldn't have known. They could have brought that out but they didn't. Over all if you want a light scare and you believe this is even remotely true, which I do not, at least as shown in the movie, then it will entertain you.
Creepy!!!
PsychoKlown11 August 2005
I'm a horror movie buff (if you've read my other comments you'll know) and since i watch a lot of these i find it increasing harder to get scared which is why i welcomed this little beauty because it seriously sh*t me up! This is because the movie doesn't just give you a CGI ghost and tell you what it wants and why, instead it plays on the unknown which is the scariest thing. The low budget means the effects are no match to Hollywood blockbusters but just the shadow of black fire appearing in kitchen makes up for this because after all the simple things can have a better impact. Another scary factor is that even after the family have the ghosts exorcised and move house the shadow STILL follows them where-ever they go and considering this was based on a true story it's frightening to think this could happen to you!!! The most of the actors do an OK job playing the terrified family with the exception of the dad, he doesn't look bothered about what's going on even after he's been raped by the demon! This will interest people who love the supernatural but sceptics will obviously say it's crap.
But i think it's a great film and everyone should see it, but not on your own in the dark on Halloween like i did ha! ha!
But i think it's a great film and everyone should see it, but not on your own in the dark on Halloween like i did ha! ha!
No Such Thing
saint_brett12 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Halloween 1955, in color, and we're informed about a house on Chase Street to avoid as no doubt it sits on sacred ground.
Why the movie kicked off in the 50s was irrelevant as we quickly dispense with it and jump straight to the 70s where Coach Wade and Andre Chikatilo live two blocks away from Samantha and Darren. They cruise around Long Island and move into the Amityville house.
Chikatilo looks a bit like Dennis Weaver.
And this street looks too much like SoCal where it don't rain but it pours.
Wasn't Chikatilo Doc from that prison movie?
I take it back, he looks like Mario, Luigi's brother. And he's plumbing at the start here.
(According to the movie, because he tampered with the faucet pipes here in the kitchen that activated the spirits that haunt them later on.)
"Look, it weren't even plugged in," says Mario while holding the toaster cord that just caught fire. Hmm, did they borrow this from Elm Street 2? So, just who is the culprit planting cherry bombs in these movies? What, Freddy?
Movie jumps to 1985 and completely skips all the classic Star Wars years.
I think the key to this movie lies within the first 12 minutes - they're all religious nuts. All this ghost business came out a couple of years after the bogus UFO phenomenon that brainwashed God fearing believers. Funny how there is never any concrete proof of UFOs or ghosts, just blurry images that look like a close up of a pizza or fog.
Coach Wade starts a relationship with a holy ghost but dresses like an Agatha or Bethel from Sunday service.
I was walking home yesterday and day dreamed that I was a cowboy musician who wrote a one hit wonder called "Baby, you look better in the dark." Too bad I live in fantasyland most of the time and can only dream as it's got global smash written all over it.
Coach Wade's invisible lover takes bathes no one else can see or hear. All signs point to her mental instability. It's no different to my schizophrenia which distorts reality. I mean, me a one hit wonder? I can't even strum a guitar let alone sing.
Coach Wade has a mental breakdown and accuses Mario of seeing other women. You're the one sleeping with the invisible man, lady.
Why are all poltergeists depicted as malevolent forces?
In the astral realm your spirit guide's intentions are only friendly. I met a pink aura of cloud once and it granted me my wish for a long shot horse winner. I literally sold my soul for a horse tip and have been stripped of my clairvoyant abilities ever since.
Coach Wade experiences a super natural occurrence with a talking pillow. This is all just Evil Dead stuff or Hollywood when they were in full swing snorting cocaine in the entertainment industry.
Understand, we're talking about the psychedelic era where they were all tripping on acid and mushrooms at the time for decades. That crap stays in your system for a long time so no wonder they were seeing ghosts back then. I ate hash cookies once and believe it or not but I actually floated into my TV and became part of the movie I was watching.
A priest is brought in to smudge stick Amityville and my advice to anyone with a ghost problem is not to call the ghostbusters but embrace your encounter. But, there's no such thing as ghosts, only over-imaginative minds. And mental illness.
The priest chokes on stale hazardous air as upstairs hasn't been dusted since the 50s and recommends they buy an air filter or get a sunlight installed.
Coach Wade sings Amazing Grace which invokes a violent reaction from a chandelier and here I am after all these years thinking that song was based on a silly tug boat that sunk in rough seas.
Points have to be awarded for using Ave Maria in the soundtrack. I love that piece.
The Warren's name pops up midway through the movie and they're proven con artists. Whenever I hear their names mentioned I like to place them in the same basket as that other raving lunatic Jim Jones who also only ever sought an audience for his diatribe.
Mario is forced to make love with a 2-in-1 woman whose teeth have seen better days and can only be best described as looking like a rusted railroad track. It's well filmed, I guess.
The Warrens show up and it's been bugging me for 10 minutes now where I've seen Mrs. Warren from before. It's the senator with the lovely suit from 'Silence of the Lambs.'
The TV starts tormenting the family. Ask me and I'd say it's the work of Colonel Cochran and his mad plan to take over the world via the tube and Stonehenge dust chips.
A chilling scene at the end of the 59 minute mark leaves an impression and warrants a few points.
I may be cynical in my assessment here reviewing this movie but there hasn't been a dull moment so far. It's watchable.
A monk is brought in to polish the house with cleaning fluid which invokes a violent earthquake. See, there's logical explanations.
But there's none for when Coach Wade starts flying around like Superman in the middle of the night. (Why is Spider-Man hyphenated when Superman isn't? I want a full investigation into this line of inquiry by the end of the month.)
Why don't they just up and leave Amityville for greener pastures? They do go camping but it backfires and draws them back to Amityville.
At their wits end they consult the press who only paint them as oddballs.
Then a sweeper from Bridget Fonda's 'Point of No Return' is brought in to provide round the clock church services. The Cleaner witnesses no apparitions, surprise surprise, and with an unholy rate too expensive The Cleaner is discarded.
Whoops, boom mic around the one hour and 29 minute mark.
Chaos and anarchy erupts when vandalism, guns and religion collide which forces the family to finally move only to have the unwanted presence tag along and follow them.
The movie can't be bothered showing the viewer how an exorcism was performed to rid the new house of evil entities and just ends it with some lame written text.
Rest easy, the spirit world means us no harm, people. This is just entertainments negative energy trying to hype up dark non-existent ghost tales.
Why the movie kicked off in the 50s was irrelevant as we quickly dispense with it and jump straight to the 70s where Coach Wade and Andre Chikatilo live two blocks away from Samantha and Darren. They cruise around Long Island and move into the Amityville house.
Chikatilo looks a bit like Dennis Weaver.
And this street looks too much like SoCal where it don't rain but it pours.
Wasn't Chikatilo Doc from that prison movie?
I take it back, he looks like Mario, Luigi's brother. And he's plumbing at the start here.
(According to the movie, because he tampered with the faucet pipes here in the kitchen that activated the spirits that haunt them later on.)
"Look, it weren't even plugged in," says Mario while holding the toaster cord that just caught fire. Hmm, did they borrow this from Elm Street 2? So, just who is the culprit planting cherry bombs in these movies? What, Freddy?
Movie jumps to 1985 and completely skips all the classic Star Wars years.
I think the key to this movie lies within the first 12 minutes - they're all religious nuts. All this ghost business came out a couple of years after the bogus UFO phenomenon that brainwashed God fearing believers. Funny how there is never any concrete proof of UFOs or ghosts, just blurry images that look like a close up of a pizza or fog.
Coach Wade starts a relationship with a holy ghost but dresses like an Agatha or Bethel from Sunday service.
I was walking home yesterday and day dreamed that I was a cowboy musician who wrote a one hit wonder called "Baby, you look better in the dark." Too bad I live in fantasyland most of the time and can only dream as it's got global smash written all over it.
Coach Wade's invisible lover takes bathes no one else can see or hear. All signs point to her mental instability. It's no different to my schizophrenia which distorts reality. I mean, me a one hit wonder? I can't even strum a guitar let alone sing.
Coach Wade has a mental breakdown and accuses Mario of seeing other women. You're the one sleeping with the invisible man, lady.
Why are all poltergeists depicted as malevolent forces?
In the astral realm your spirit guide's intentions are only friendly. I met a pink aura of cloud once and it granted me my wish for a long shot horse winner. I literally sold my soul for a horse tip and have been stripped of my clairvoyant abilities ever since.
Coach Wade experiences a super natural occurrence with a talking pillow. This is all just Evil Dead stuff or Hollywood when they were in full swing snorting cocaine in the entertainment industry.
Understand, we're talking about the psychedelic era where they were all tripping on acid and mushrooms at the time for decades. That crap stays in your system for a long time so no wonder they were seeing ghosts back then. I ate hash cookies once and believe it or not but I actually floated into my TV and became part of the movie I was watching.
A priest is brought in to smudge stick Amityville and my advice to anyone with a ghost problem is not to call the ghostbusters but embrace your encounter. But, there's no such thing as ghosts, only over-imaginative minds. And mental illness.
The priest chokes on stale hazardous air as upstairs hasn't been dusted since the 50s and recommends they buy an air filter or get a sunlight installed.
Coach Wade sings Amazing Grace which invokes a violent reaction from a chandelier and here I am after all these years thinking that song was based on a silly tug boat that sunk in rough seas.
Points have to be awarded for using Ave Maria in the soundtrack. I love that piece.
The Warren's name pops up midway through the movie and they're proven con artists. Whenever I hear their names mentioned I like to place them in the same basket as that other raving lunatic Jim Jones who also only ever sought an audience for his diatribe.
Mario is forced to make love with a 2-in-1 woman whose teeth have seen better days and can only be best described as looking like a rusted railroad track. It's well filmed, I guess.
The Warrens show up and it's been bugging me for 10 minutes now where I've seen Mrs. Warren from before. It's the senator with the lovely suit from 'Silence of the Lambs.'
The TV starts tormenting the family. Ask me and I'd say it's the work of Colonel Cochran and his mad plan to take over the world via the tube and Stonehenge dust chips.
A chilling scene at the end of the 59 minute mark leaves an impression and warrants a few points.
I may be cynical in my assessment here reviewing this movie but there hasn't been a dull moment so far. It's watchable.
A monk is brought in to polish the house with cleaning fluid which invokes a violent earthquake. See, there's logical explanations.
But there's none for when Coach Wade starts flying around like Superman in the middle of the night. (Why is Spider-Man hyphenated when Superman isn't? I want a full investigation into this line of inquiry by the end of the month.)
Why don't they just up and leave Amityville for greener pastures? They do go camping but it backfires and draws them back to Amityville.
At their wits end they consult the press who only paint them as oddballs.
Then a sweeper from Bridget Fonda's 'Point of No Return' is brought in to provide round the clock church services. The Cleaner witnesses no apparitions, surprise surprise, and with an unholy rate too expensive The Cleaner is discarded.
Whoops, boom mic around the one hour and 29 minute mark.
Chaos and anarchy erupts when vandalism, guns and religion collide which forces the family to finally move only to have the unwanted presence tag along and follow them.
The movie can't be bothered showing the viewer how an exorcism was performed to rid the new house of evil entities and just ends it with some lame written text.
Rest easy, the spirit world means us no harm, people. This is just entertainments negative energy trying to hype up dark non-existent ghost tales.
May the Lord protect us and keep us from trite crap like this.
Son_of_Mansfield23 June 2007
Warning: Spoilers
A religious family moves into a new house and the mother is almost immediately attacked by a spirit in the house. Nobody believes her until other members of her family start seeing things too. Setting aside the fact that this is based on a "true story", the script, actors, and direction are all terrible. It could've easily been a Roger Corman movie from the 50's. There are cheap musical cues for the standard scares, horrendous overacting, and, as with many book adaptations, unnecessary narration. It's very sad when something happens and then the narration tells you what just happened or when the same bad scare, the so called, "demon rape", is used over and over. Then, there is all the supposed solution to all problems, prayer. Riiight. But, shockingly, that doesn't work. So, what do you do when you have tried religion and it can't get rid of that pesky ghost problem, who do you call? The media. Sure, sharp choice, if you want to be labeled a wacko. So, how do you get rid of the media which is now camped on your front yard, threaten them with a shot gun. I could do this all day. Ghosts may or may not exist, but one thing is for sure: bad movies do. Please, believe me.
Limp retelling of a true story
Vince-516 July 2001
Warning: Spoilers
May contain minor spoilers (just in case).
I live about an hour away from West Pittston, where these events took place. Also, I live on one side of a duplex (or, as we call it here, a double block). When I first saw this movie of the week, these details gave it a special significance for me...which quickly dissolved.
This could have been an entertaining piece, but it is brought down by the usual TV trappings--not the least of which are annoying kids and old people. The hymn-singing, impossibly over-functional characters are entirely unbelievable. Everything is lethargically photographed (on videotape, it seems) and accompanied by a standard TV-family-in-peril score. There is no momentum at all; any attempt to build tension is hampered by dull handling. The big moments are more silly than scary. Who can forget the infamous scene where Jeffrey DeMunn is raped by a succubus that resembles Divine on a bad day? Then, the irritating grandmother encounters a ghost while vacuuming, prompting my mother to ask, "Why doesn't she just suck it up in the vacuum cleaner?" Sure, my mom wouldn't make it as a parapsychologist, but Granny trying to Hoover up a demon would certainly have done something to relieve the tedium. I won't reveal the ending, but I don't think I'd be spoiling anything if I did.
Maverick supertalent Sally Kirkland is utterly wasted, flying through the air and tossing potholders on a frantic quest for holy water. She deserved a lot better, even though she's the only aspect that makes this worth sitting through. Interestingly, she is given the job of conveying two big inaccuracies. First, she mentions coming from "Wilkes Bahra"; Wilkes Barre is pronounced with a flat A, as anyone who lived there would know. Secondly, she mentioned a hexagram as the devil's sign. Hexagram? The Star of David? Who was funding this thing?
The Haunted will never be mistaken for The Haunting (1963). It isn't really worth seeking out, but it might be worth seeing if caught on TV, if only for some unintended laughs and Kirkland's valiant attempt to redeem the proceedings. Just, please, keep your expectations low.
I live about an hour away from West Pittston, where these events took place. Also, I live on one side of a duplex (or, as we call it here, a double block). When I first saw this movie of the week, these details gave it a special significance for me...which quickly dissolved.
This could have been an entertaining piece, but it is brought down by the usual TV trappings--not the least of which are annoying kids and old people. The hymn-singing, impossibly over-functional characters are entirely unbelievable. Everything is lethargically photographed (on videotape, it seems) and accompanied by a standard TV-family-in-peril score. There is no momentum at all; any attempt to build tension is hampered by dull handling. The big moments are more silly than scary. Who can forget the infamous scene where Jeffrey DeMunn is raped by a succubus that resembles Divine on a bad day? Then, the irritating grandmother encounters a ghost while vacuuming, prompting my mother to ask, "Why doesn't she just suck it up in the vacuum cleaner?" Sure, my mom wouldn't make it as a parapsychologist, but Granny trying to Hoover up a demon would certainly have done something to relieve the tedium. I won't reveal the ending, but I don't think I'd be spoiling anything if I did.
Maverick supertalent Sally Kirkland is utterly wasted, flying through the air and tossing potholders on a frantic quest for holy water. She deserved a lot better, even though she's the only aspect that makes this worth sitting through. Interestingly, she is given the job of conveying two big inaccuracies. First, she mentions coming from "Wilkes Bahra"; Wilkes Barre is pronounced with a flat A, as anyone who lived there would know. Secondly, she mentioned a hexagram as the devil's sign. Hexagram? The Star of David? Who was funding this thing?
The Haunted will never be mistaken for The Haunting (1963). It isn't really worth seeking out, but it might be worth seeing if caught on TV, if only for some unintended laughs and Kirkland's valiant attempt to redeem the proceedings. Just, please, keep your expectations low.
Starts Out Well, But Falls Apart Toward The End
jbartelone12 March 2007
Warning: Spoilers
The Haunted is a dramatization of the true story of Jack and Janet Smurl, a Pennsylvania couple who were plagued by supernatural forces for over 10 years while living in a haunted house.
Nearly all of the dates mentioned in the film do not correspond to the dates in other documents about the case. Whether you believe their ordeal or not, (It is well-documented that at no time did the family ever call the police in all of the years that they lived there, and the paranormal investigators, The Warrens who bring themselves into the story, will find something paranormal about everything they investigate, even when cases that others have investigated have been proved to be hoaxes.)
In any event, the movie starts out well with some good chilling scare scenes and strong dramatic effects. The acting seems to be above average. The alternate versions list some scenes that were supposedly in the original 1991 TV airing, but I saw the film on its original broadcast, and do not recall these scenes. However, these additional scenes are mentioned in other documents about the case.
The film falls apart about the time that Mr. Smurl is attacked by a demon, who takes the form of his oldest daughter! This is a little too unbelievable for my tastes. Soon thereafter, the viewer is treated to several religious chants and singing from some group called "The Sacred Heart." This is where the film turns into a complete mess! The scares and chills of a little more than the first hour into the film turn into a campy, "Pray a lot and do some signing, and the big bad demons will go away." Such an instance to this reviewer, suggests that the film makers ran out of good material and needed something campy to stretch the film another 40 minutes. While the last third of the film is not totally unbearable, it brings down the rating of an otherwise decent production, that with a better climax would yield a higher rating.
Nearly all of the dates mentioned in the film do not correspond to the dates in other documents about the case. Whether you believe their ordeal or not, (It is well-documented that at no time did the family ever call the police in all of the years that they lived there, and the paranormal investigators, The Warrens who bring themselves into the story, will find something paranormal about everything they investigate, even when cases that others have investigated have been proved to be hoaxes.)
In any event, the movie starts out well with some good chilling scare scenes and strong dramatic effects. The acting seems to be above average. The alternate versions list some scenes that were supposedly in the original 1991 TV airing, but I saw the film on its original broadcast, and do not recall these scenes. However, these additional scenes are mentioned in other documents about the case.
The film falls apart about the time that Mr. Smurl is attacked by a demon, who takes the form of his oldest daughter! This is a little too unbelievable for my tastes. Soon thereafter, the viewer is treated to several religious chants and singing from some group called "The Sacred Heart." This is where the film turns into a complete mess! The scares and chills of a little more than the first hour into the film turn into a campy, "Pray a lot and do some signing, and the big bad demons will go away." Such an instance to this reviewer, suggests that the film makers ran out of good material and needed something campy to stretch the film another 40 minutes. While the last third of the film is not totally unbearable, it brings down the rating of an otherwise decent production, that with a better climax would yield a higher rating.
Early Warrens movie appearance
BandSAboutMovies7 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Jack and Janet Smurl of West Pittston, PA say that a demon was in their house for nearly 15 years between 1974 and 1989, despite the denials of the Catholic Church, psychologists and scientific skeptics. Luckily, they had Ed and Lorraine Warren on their side, who encouraged their beliefs and even helped them write the book that this movie was based on.
Sally Kirkland was nominated for a Golden Globe award for her work in this movie as Janet Smurl. Jack is played by Jeffrey DeMunn, who you may know as Dale from TV's The Walking Dead. Or if you're like Becca and never watched that show, you'll know him as the sheriff from the remake of The Blob.
Louise Latham from Marnie plays the grandmother and George D. Wallace - Commander Cody himself! - is the grandfather, who doesn't believe any of this is happening but has a great part where he fends off the media on the porch with a rifle.
Joyce Van Patten - the domineering mom from Monkey Shines - shows up as a neighbor, with Stephen Markle and Diane Baker playing the Warrens, way before The Conjuring series of films (I kind of Lorraine also appeared on Road Rules: All-Stars before Hollywood truly came calling). Keep an eye out for the reporter who collapses on the Smurl's front lawn - that's Lorraine.
The best part of this movie? The crazy way it visualizes the demonic presence as a black formless bit of nothing that has multiple voices. The funniest? There are numerous moments, but I kind of love that copyright issues meant that when the kids watch Lost In Space, they dubbed over the actor's voices.
Sally Kirkland was nominated for a Golden Globe award for her work in this movie as Janet Smurl. Jack is played by Jeffrey DeMunn, who you may know as Dale from TV's The Walking Dead. Or if you're like Becca and never watched that show, you'll know him as the sheriff from the remake of The Blob.
Louise Latham from Marnie plays the grandmother and George D. Wallace - Commander Cody himself! - is the grandfather, who doesn't believe any of this is happening but has a great part where he fends off the media on the porch with a rifle.
Joyce Van Patten - the domineering mom from Monkey Shines - shows up as a neighbor, with Stephen Markle and Diane Baker playing the Warrens, way before The Conjuring series of films (I kind of Lorraine also appeared on Road Rules: All-Stars before Hollywood truly came calling). Keep an eye out for the reporter who collapses on the Smurl's front lawn - that's Lorraine.
The best part of this movie? The crazy way it visualizes the demonic presence as a black formless bit of nothing that has multiple voices. The funniest? There are numerous moments, but I kind of love that copyright issues meant that when the kids watch Lost In Space, they dubbed over the actor's voices.
best made for TV horror movie
sid_licious_60615 August 2006
haven't seen this one for a while but unlike tons of other films this one remains quite vivid in my head. it's tense with well developed characters, creative and most importantly, effective! saw this when i was about ten and it blew my mind. the whispering pillows, the grandmothers voice coming from the basement. chilling stuff. a few bits might be a little hokey to some people but i remember being pretty disturbed by the "ghost rape". it just came out'a nowhere. also, i thought the apparitions were chilling as well. i remember the "black spot" didn't do much for me then so i know now that it is probably quite lame. but otherwise this flick is just dead on and a lot of fun. oh yeah, and i can't forget that part when they pull up to the house and flames are blazing inside and those screams! if you like a damn good ghost story then check this out if you can. no "official" DVD release yet but i guess it is shown on cable occasionally. have to keep our fingers crossed for the DVD i guess.
Should Connect With Schizotypal Personalities.
rmax3048232 May 2006
Warning: Spoilers
It's not worth going on about. The plot is described elsewhere and not much else deserves comment.
If you, as an average moviegoer, can think of a cliché from horror/haunting/supernatural movies -- it's in here. Even those you can't think of are in here.
I didn't bother counting the number of shameless ripoffs, ranging from "The Amityville Horror" to "The Exorcist." Some incidents are adapted almost intact -- levitation.
It's the cinematic equivalent of painting by the numbers. You have to have a central character who is a female and whom no one believes. The husband, if he is stalwart, must go away on a trip. Or, if he is a mush, as here, he's around but helpless. The husband, by the way, is played by Jeffrey DeMunn, my costar in -- what was it again? "Rage of Angels"? No -- "Windmills of the Gods," that's it. A memorable cult classic if there ever was one. And he was sublime too, almost as good as I was. What happened to us -- I mean HIM? If you think it's a good idea, when your plea for help is spurned by the Church, to turn to a parapsychological couple who come into your house, poke around, ask a few questions, and then tell you: "Please sit down. Your house is haunted by four spirits. One of them is an old woman. She's confused but harmless," then this may be just the movie for you.
Know what I really think? All of the sources for this material are old enough so that the people who greenlighted this train wreck figured it was time they were recycled. The kids are too young or too dumb to know that not a single frame of this corrupt and malodorous thing is twice as old as they are.
If you, as an average moviegoer, can think of a cliché from horror/haunting/supernatural movies -- it's in here. Even those you can't think of are in here.
I didn't bother counting the number of shameless ripoffs, ranging from "The Amityville Horror" to "The Exorcist." Some incidents are adapted almost intact -- levitation.
It's the cinematic equivalent of painting by the numbers. You have to have a central character who is a female and whom no one believes. The husband, if he is stalwart, must go away on a trip. Or, if he is a mush, as here, he's around but helpless. The husband, by the way, is played by Jeffrey DeMunn, my costar in -- what was it again? "Rage of Angels"? No -- "Windmills of the Gods," that's it. A memorable cult classic if there ever was one. And he was sublime too, almost as good as I was. What happened to us -- I mean HIM? If you think it's a good idea, when your plea for help is spurned by the Church, to turn to a parapsychological couple who come into your house, poke around, ask a few questions, and then tell you: "Please sit down. Your house is haunted by four spirits. One of them is an old woman. She's confused but harmless," then this may be just the movie for you.
Know what I really think? All of the sources for this material are old enough so that the people who greenlighted this train wreck figured it was time they were recycled. The kids are too young or too dumb to know that not a single frame of this corrupt and malodorous thing is twice as old as they are.
you see this film, you'll rest a bit uneasy that night!
jester-3021 October 1999
A fantastic and atmospheric horror film which relies more on psychological terror than special effects and typical hollywood formulaic scares. It's based on a true story which was investigated by the Warrens and made into a pretty convincing book. Though the movie is obviously "toned down" for tv, the horror grows from an expertly directed series of scenes which portray a strengthening tension and increasing level of stress in the characters who are plagued by terrible circumstances. It's well done. A good friend o mine was actually one of the Warren's students, and I've dealt with them professionally in the past, so I can assure you they're not kooks. For example, they are high on the list of people law enforcement uses to advise on crimes of an extraordinary nature. This is serious business... and trust me, you see this film, you'll rest a bit uneasy that night! Cheers!
Horror? Maybe in terms of quality
ArthurDental11 May 2003
I guess this movie works only if you believe tabloid stories, or you really believe in the supernatural (kind of same thing). It starts off decently with some scary scenes, but then turns into a farce that makes no sense except for the pouting of an endless stream of religious/spiritual utterings and sayings. If this is what religion is about, god help us.
I really liked this movie
Carescent20 September 2001
I really liked The Haunted (tv-movie) & every time it is on I watch it. I scare really easily so I was scared while I watched it. I also thought that Sally Kirkland did a good job with her role as well. I love movies about the supernatural & the paranormal whether they are true or made up, I like them all.
Unbelievable tosh!!
gillpiggott7 August 2019
The script and acting is wooden, uninspired and bland. People who believe this stuff must be determined to be hoodwinked. Seems the actors felt the same way as me as the 'performances' were stilted and lacked any energy or believability at all. Awful film, perfect evidence of how phoney these 'true' stories are. Don't waste your time.
Better than the book...
elsbed-118 October 1999
I really liked this movie, which was based on a book by the same name...the true story of a family terrorized by demons in their Pennsylvania home. Strangely, I found the characters in the movie to be much more likeable than the actual people in the book, with the exception of the grandma (Louise Latham) who bugged me to no end with her whining. The film appears to be very loosely based on the book, however, as most of this type of "true story" films are...many events were left out entirely or embellished upon heavily to make it more sequential. One of the funniest things was the casting of the fairly attractive (and relatively youthful) Diane Baker as Lorraine Warren...if anyone has seen the real Lorraine and Ed Warren, you will see what I mean. (Perhaps as co-writers of the book they had some sort of hand in the casting...?) All in all, it's not an Amityville Horror, but a pretty good made for TV movie that's worth watching.
Entertaining...in a bad way
darylspano23 December 2006
Notice that I did not rate this movie a 1. Although the movie is not entertaining, the experience I had watching it was.
About 30 minutes into the movie, I had my doubts about it. I was in a daze; confounded by the inconceivable character actions, silly dialog, and over-reactions to non-events and under-reactions to significant events. I wanted to turn it off. However, as I slung insults and random comments at the TV, my wife and kids started to laugh. They joined in, and we did enjoy each other's creative comments. We certainly had a number of laughs at the movie.
After about a half-hour of that, it started to get old. We got bored with slinging comments, and started to realize how truly un-entertaining the movie itself was. We (the kids and I) finally gave up and went about more interesting business. My wife hung in there and finished it. She briefed me on the ending (in a disappointed and monotone voice).
All that said, if the movie was made as part of an ad-hoc college film project, or otherwise put together by a group of friends, I would have to say it was reasonably well done. However, presuming it was written/produced by professionals, I really can't say it measures up.
About 30 minutes into the movie, I had my doubts about it. I was in a daze; confounded by the inconceivable character actions, silly dialog, and over-reactions to non-events and under-reactions to significant events. I wanted to turn it off. However, as I slung insults and random comments at the TV, my wife and kids started to laugh. They joined in, and we did enjoy each other's creative comments. We certainly had a number of laughs at the movie.
After about a half-hour of that, it started to get old. We got bored with slinging comments, and started to realize how truly un-entertaining the movie itself was. We (the kids and I) finally gave up and went about more interesting business. My wife hung in there and finished it. She briefed me on the ending (in a disappointed and monotone voice).
All that said, if the movie was made as part of an ad-hoc college film project, or otherwise put together by a group of friends, I would have to say it was reasonably well done. However, presuming it was written/produced by professionals, I really can't say it measures up.
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