The Amityville Podcast

A bit of a long episode, longer than the movie. We're starting to break. I can feel it. Tired. Angry. Resentful. But the end (for now) is in sight. We can do this.

Wait, an Amityville movie with a ghost? Is there also a house? We F'ed around so you can find out!

Is it a cult? Children of the Corn? Something else? We went into this one pretty blind, not a lot of info available when we recorded this episode. And now so can you! This plus other bonus topics as we distract ourselves like usual.

In the tradition of The Craft, Eastwick, and or The Worst, and or Police, Vice, Ski, and Bikini, there's finally a Witching school in the series. It was inevitable. The first movie was based on a book, and witch schools are the Amityville of young adult fiction. Sometimes entertaining, rarely great, usually debatably professional in quality, but easy to sell enough to keep going.

Content warning. The title may be a hint. We underestimated and overestimated what we were in for. They go for it, and we're in for it. But the discussion is frank if that's a concern.

The return of our podcast, AND the of Mark Polonia, who is never short on ideas! This was one we'd been excited about back at the beginning for a few reasons. One, it was at the very end of our journey, the latest one to come out. How many more could they make? Well, we're looking at a minimum of 16 more, so that was on us and our stupid optimism. The other draw was the shark on the cover. A posse...

The last Amityville to be released before COVID-19, so also the last episode in a perfect streak while Pat and Tom catch up from both getting COVID-19. In our defense, Omicron sounds like a cool Transformer, and we're both collectors. This one is also a quasi-remake of Amityville II: The Possession, and from the writer of Halloween 666: The Curse of Michael Myers, here also directing. We'll be bac...

A home movie version of a horror film. Does that mean it's a found footage movie? Not exactly. Actually we're not sure how to classify this. In the pre-movie segment we talk about other one-time film makers, then as usual distract ourselves.

Tom and Pat discuss all sorts of things, and occasionally touch on the movie. This is a studio one with some decent names in it. 

Once again a film was retitled in some releases, so we have to lock ourselves up with another independent production. Before the film we discuss "Oh him!" and "Hey that guy!" actors.

A sequel to Toybox, which we hadn't thought left questions unanswered. Still, this far into the line we aren't really worried about continuity and closure, so let's see what happens. Before the film we talk about unnecessary sequels, Monkey Shines, and when character actors break out. 

The return of the microbudget crew that gave us the one with the spider lady! Will it be connected? Will it be even better? Don't get your hopes up. Before the movie we touch briefly on other possession movies before a bit of a spiral.

This one had an Amityville name on one of its international releases. So we had to give it a go. Also, it has a cast that includes some cool character actors, so it wasn't as much of a strain to accept our fate. They actually get us spiraling off before the film about the different versions of Steven King's Carrie and issues with the Arrowverse.

Another found footage movie, but split between two footage "sources" to make sure they hit feature running time. Will it all add up as a story? If not, it at least takes up an afternoon for us. Before the film we dive into run times, franchise continuities, and a general lack of focus.

Now we dive into another Amityville -new synonym- with no idea what to expect, save for ideally people being terrified. Down the road the titles and posters warn us of vampires, ghosts, sharks, and toys of the all-ages and adult variety. This time we've got nothing but surprises in store! Before the movie we talk about movies that have truly terrified us.

We've now passed the "Air Bud" marker of movies! Yay? This week we check out another cursed item entry, an evil wind up monkey. Well, more evil than normal. A family gets together for dad's birthday and the usual squabbles take on a more sinister edge, though probably still better than most holiday gatherings over the last few years. Before the movie we discuss other evil toys amongst other things...

This week we watch the incredibly elusive Vanishing Point. It took us months of trying every possible way of watching it, and 4th time was the charm. We'll spare you a few of the intros to this homage to Twin Peaks (it comes closest to the Diane Keaton episode), but will keep the original since we had a talk about other hard to find, possibly unreleased, films. 

An international production! Not that the budget would indicate it. As anybody who has done enough theater and they'll have ghost stories, whether they believe them or not. Therefore, it's no surprise that the Amityville Theater has some patrons of the dark arts connected to it. Before the film we discuss other horror films with theater settings, Frank Darabont, and Tales From the Crypt.

It's an Amityville movie in name only, and even then only on some releases. But why would we do this if not to punish ourselves? Oh, it's also not the actual final chapter, but we do discuss other falsely claimed finales. For those traveling for Thanksgiving the week this posts, we hope discussing this movie will serve as a great counter-measure to any awkward family discussions. See how Uncle Joe...

This week we cover the first of the so far three Amityville movies from Mark Palonia, a pioneer of micro budget and shot-on-video movies. We also wander onto several other topics in the pre-ramble, and try once again to sort out what makes an Amityville movie. With this one, the Amityville series ties Friday the 13th on number of entries.

We try and keep the episodes shorter than the movies. Sometimes it's easier than other times. Because this one was a UK production we discuss franchises that relocated either their setting or their production along the way. Not so much in a globe trotting James Bond way. More in a "Jason takes Manhattan so you move the production from New Jersey to Toronto?" kind of way.

This entry begins the era of the micro-budget open source anyone can make one Amityville films. To keep the budget low, they of course go the found footage route. Before the movie we talk about other found footage films that are worth checking out.

While not the last theatrical Amityville, it was certainly the last wide release high profile one. The only Platinum Dunes remakes to spawn a second entry both involved cannibals in the desert. This one spawned so much else. Before the movie we discuss the other Platinum Dunes remakes and Ryan Reynolds.

The last of the original run of Amityville movies, and the Republic Pictures trilogy. The last big hill for the rollercoaster ahead. This seems like a cursed item movie, or maybe just the same idea somewhere else? In the pre-movie conversation we discuss dollhouses in horror.

In the tradition of Star Trek TNG, The New Monkees, and the Maverick movie, a new generation of terror begins as the grandson of the original house takes on... What? It's a mirror that messes with an L.A. artists commune? Sure. Pre-movie conversation about other generational reboots.