Editorials
“Get Out!”: Classic Haunted House Film ‘The Amityville Horror’ Turns 40
Of all the haunted houses in the world of horror, few are as iconic or its story as well known as The Amityville Horror. Based on a bestselling novel of the same name by Jay Anson, the film tells the story of newlywed couple George and Kathy Lutz, and Kathy’s kids from a previous marriage, as they embark on a new life together with the purchase of a lakeside property at a bargain price. The American dream. Except, there’s something seriously wrong with the house, and it threatens to tear this family apart permanently. Thanks to the popularity of the novel and of the lead actors, The Amityville Horror became a massive success at the box office upon release on July 27, 1979, marking the birth of a long-running franchise and an enduring legacy.
Anson’s novel claims to be based on a factual account of the Lutz’s experiences with 112 Ocean Avenue, a home in the Amityville neighborhood of Long Island, New York. They moved into the home one year after Ronald DeFeo Jr. shot and killed six of his family members at the house. The Lutz family only lasted 28 days in the house before fleeing. As for DeFeo Jr., he’s currently serving six life sentences. The city denied the production the ability to film at the actual house, wanting distance from any possible negative press, so exterior shots were filmed at a private residence in New Jersey that was converted to resemble the iconic house.
James Brolin was a regular leading man when he was offered the role of George Lutz. He was hesitant to accept, partly because there was no finished script to read and also because he worried that the haunted house movie would be too hokey. So, he was urged to read the novel. Brolin became so engrossed when he started the book that he continued reading well into the late hours of the night, punctuated by a pair of his hung pants falling abruptly during a particularly scary moment in the book. He took that as a sign to accept the part. He proved too effective as the possessed George, though, that he struggled to find roles for a period after the film’s release.
As for Margot Kidder, who played Kathy Lutz, she’d already proven her horror mettle in Black Christmas and Brian De Palma’s Sisters. But she was fresh off her breakthrough turn as plucky reporter Lois Lane in Superman when this role came her way. In other words, both Brolin and Kidder were box office draws at the time.
Directed by Stuart Rosenberg (Cool Hand Luke, Voyage of the Damned), and penned by Sandor Stern (Pin), The Amityville Horror contained a wealth of memorable moments beyond the iconic “evil eyes” of the house’s exterior. The flies, the menacing voice booming “GET OUT!” at Father Delaney (Rod Steiger) when he comes to bless the home, the glowing red eyes of Jody the pig, the nightmares at 3:15am, the poor babysitter’s trauma, and that walled-up room in the basement that hid the passage to hell all made for an unforgettable entry in haunted house terror.
But it was the relatability of the Lutz’s financial situation that resonated the most. They put everything they had into this house. When George and Kathy discuss whether they can afford the home, no matter its cheap price tag, it’s easy to put ourselves in their shoes. When Kathy’s brother can’t find the money he stashed away for the caterer on the night of his engagement party, George offers to write a check until the cash turns up. It’s a gesture that elicits serious dread because we know George can’t afford it; and the money never does resurface. It’s not just the evils of the house getting to him, but the financial pressures of keeping the family afloat.
Finally, you can’t talk about The Amityville Horror without mentioning the Academy Award nominated score by Lalo Schifrin. The eerie choir vocals, the shrieking strings and the frenzied notes all orchestrate a chilling score that perfectly captures a haunting presence. Or a house of pure evil. It was a sort of redemption for Schifrin, whose previous score for The Exorcist had been thrown out by William Friedkin.
With a larger than life backstory, a popular novel, two compelling lead actors, a goosebump-inducing score, and no shortage of memorable movie moments set in an iconic haunted house, it’s easy to see why The Amityville Horror became the second highest grossing movie of 1979. Or why 22 additional Amityville films have been made since, including the 2005 remake. Early in the film, Kathy asks George if it bothered him to know that a family died in that house. He responded, “Well, sure, but houses don’t have memories.”
He didn’t know at the time that this one does. Forty years’ worth.
A new month means a new guide as titles are added (and dropped) from streaming services. Let’s unpack the most exciting titles that are available to watch on Tubi in July 2026.
New to Tubi July Horror Films
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
- Premise: Searching for a cure to Alzheimer’s disease, a group of scientists on an isolated research facility become the prey as a trio of intelligent sharks fight back.
- Why Watch It? Let’s be frank: Director Renny Harlin has made some absolute dogs in the last few years (the less said about The Strangers trilogy the better, though this year’s Deep Water was actually ok). Deep Blue Sea remains one of the Finnish director’s best contemporary efforts, though. Between the great cast (Samuel L. Jackson, Saffron Burrows, Stellan Skarsgård, Michael Rapaport, LL Cool J, Thomas Jane, and Jane’s sleeveless wetsuit), the ridiculous premise, and that damn/dumb song (“My hat is like a shark’s fin”), you basically can’t go wrong with Deep Blue Sea. It’s one of two great shark films gliding onto Tubi this month, so why not stay out of the water and watch this instead?
- Streaming: July 1
Exorcist II: Heretic (1977)
- Premise: Reagan (Linda Blair), a girl once possessed by a demon, finds that it still lurks within her. Meanwhile, Father Lamont (Richard Burton) investigates the death of the priest who performed her exorcism.
- Why Watch It? August sees the release of documentary Boorman and the Devil, which is about the troubled production of this sequel. The notoriety surrounding Heretic has undoubtedly kept plenty of horror fans away from the sequel, but this truly is a “seeing is believing” kind of film. Real talk: it’s undeniably a disaster, but the John Boorman film has also become a minor cult film. Don’t you want to see it to make up your own mind?
- Streaming: July 1
Hostel: Part III (2011)
- Premise: Four men attending a bachelor party in Las Vegas fall prey to the Elite Hunting Club, who are hosting a gruesome game show of torture.
- Why Watch It? What does Hostel look like without Eli Roth? Part III kinda answers the question. Technically Roth is still a writer, but he hands over the directorial reins to Scott Spiegel (best known for acting in Evil Dead films). The result is a film with a terrible pedigree; it’s also the first (and last) entry to skip theatres before the franchise was permanently shelved (until that TV show with Paul Giamatti shows up?). For some horror fans, however, there’s something exciting about a bad low-budget sequel. Just bear in mind that the Hostel: Part III‘s biggest star is Kip Pardue…so adjust your expectations accordingly before hitting play.
- Streaming: July 1
Insidious 1-3 (2010/2013/2015)
- Premise: A family looks to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm called The Further.
- Why Watch It? It’s hard to believe that the sixth (!) Insidious movie is coming out in a month and a half, but James Wan and Leigh Whannell‘s other horror franchise has been steadily chugging along for sixteen years. It’s a shame that Tubi doesn’t have all five films available to watch, but in terms of quality, you can do far worse than the original trio. The first film is iconic, and the second is basically an extended coda (with some admittedly problematic stuff going on). I’ll go to bat for Whannell’s 2015 directorial debut, though: there’s a few banger sequences in that film that people slept on.
- Streaming: July 1
Man Finds Tape (2025)
- Premise: After finding mysterious video clips, siblings investigate the strange recordings and uncover a disturbing secret spreading through their Texas town.
- Why Watch It? Writer/directors Paul Gandersman and Peter S. Hall‘s well-received found footage film did an extensive tour of the festival circuit, so now is a great time to check out one of the most contemporary titles debuting on Tubi this month. Surely a title that hails from producers Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Spring and The Endless) is worth a free look?
- Streaming: July 2
Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
- Premise: A depressed musician Adam (Tom Hiddleston) reunites with his lover Eve (Tilda Swinton). However, their romance, which has already endured several centuries, is disrupted by the arrival of her uncontrollable younger sister Ava (Mia Wasikowska).
- Why Watch It? This beautiful, melancholy vampire film is courtesy of writer/director Jim Jarmusch, who doesn’t often dabble in genre fare. As always, some will quibble if this artsy drama qualifies as horror, but the existential ennui of an eternal life certainly qualifies (bonus: there’s also something inherently sexy about watching Hiddleston and Swinton just lay about). Plus: if Leviticus has you hankering for more Wasikowska, this is an under the radar pick.
- Streaming: July 1
The Shallows (2016)
- Premise:A mere 200 yards from shore, surfer Nancy (Blake Lively) is attacked by a great white shark, with her short journey to safety becoming the ultimate contest of wills.
- Why Watch It? What better time to watch a shark movie than July? The temperatures are soaring and the idea of escaping into the water is so tantalizing. This tight, contained thriller features a great performance by Lively (and that damn seagull!), but it’s the direction from genre fave Jaume Collet-Serra (Orphan; the House of Wax remake) that keeps the movie clicking along like clockwork. At 86 minutes, this is a perfect summer flick.
- Streaming: July 1
Vacancy (2007)
- Premise: Stranded in an isolated motel, a couple (Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale) become the unsuspecting subjects of a snuff film.
- Why Watch It? I’m not going to pretend that this Nimród Antal-directed home invasion film is high art, but it is a good time. You’ll likely wish there were deeper characterizations for Wilson and Beckinsale’s David and Amy in Mark L. Smith‘s screenplay, but this mid-aughts thriller is tense, exciting, and just the right amount of grimy. Plus: another short runtime, clocking in at an expeditious 85 minutes!
- Streaming: July 1
July Tubi Originals
The One Next Door (2026)
- Premise: When a mysterious stranger moves in next door to Robert and Tabitha, boundaries are tested, loyalty is questioned, and danger comes for all.
- Streaming: July 10
I Know Where You Live (2026)
- Premise: Sarah thinks she’s found “the one” until his flaws emerge. When she pulls away, chilling threats suggest he’s watching her from inside her own home.
- Streaming: July 24
What’s your favorite from the list above? Will you check out the new Original? Sound off in the comments below
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