The Amityville Horror
George Lutz, his wife Kathy, and their three children have just moved into a beautiful, and improbably cheap, Dutch colonial mansion nestled in the sleepy coastal town of Amityville, Long Island. However, their dream home is concealing a horrific past and soon each member of the Lutz family is plagued with increasingly strange and violent visions and impulses.
Despite a moderate budget of $19.0M, The Amityville Horror became a financial success, earning $107.5M worldwide—a 466% return.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Amityville Horror (2005) exhibits carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of Andrew Douglas's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 14-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 30 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.5, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The Lutz family is introduced as a blended but happy family. George meets Kathy's children for the first time at their wedding, establishing them as a loving unit seeking a fresh start together.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when The family moves into 112 Ocean Avenue. Immediately, youngest daughter Chelsea begins talking to her "imaginary friend" Jodie, and George discovers the creepy basement that will become his obsession. The house's malevolent presence is activated.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to George chooses to stay despite mounting evidence of danger. After a particularly terrifying night where Chelsea nearly dies on the roof following "Jodie," George insists they remain, saying they can't afford to leave. He commits the family to the house., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Kathy discovers the hidden room in the basement where Reverend Ketcham tortured and murdered Native Americans. She realizes the house's evil is real and ancient. This false defeat moment reveals the true stakes—they're not dealing with a haunting but with demonic evil that seeks to possess George completely., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, George fully transforms into the demonic entity, raising a rifle to murder his family just as Ronald DeFeo did. Kathy realizes her husband is gone, replaced by something evil. The family she fought to protect is about to be destroyed by the man who promised to love them., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 72 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Kathy makes the active choice to fight back. Instead of fleeing, she confronts George directly, calling out to the man she loves beneath the possession. She refuses to abandon him, synthesizing her role as protector of both husband and children. Her love becomes the weapon against the demon., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Amityville Horror's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 14 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping The Amityville Horror against these established plot points, we can identify how Andrew Douglas utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Amityville Horror within the horror genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Lake Placid, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Cat's Eye.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The Lutz family is introduced as a blended but happy family. George meets Kathy's children for the first time at their wedding, establishing them as a loving unit seeking a fresh start together.
Theme
The real estate agent dismisses the house's dark history, saying "Houses don't kill people. People kill people." This statement foreshadows the debate about whether evil resides in places or people.
Worldbuilding
The family tours and purchases the Amityville house at an impossibly low price. We see their financial struggles, George's desire to provide for his new family, and the children's excitement about their new home. The DeFeo murders are mentioned but dismissed.
Disruption
The family moves into 112 Ocean Avenue. Immediately, youngest daughter Chelsea begins talking to her "imaginary friend" Jodie, and George discovers the creepy basement that will become his obsession. The house's malevolent presence is activated.
Resistance
Strange occurrences escalate: Father Callaway becomes violently ill while trying to bless the house, flies swarm specific rooms, Chelsea converses with the invisible Jodie, and George begins experiencing disturbing nightmares and personality changes. The family debates whether these are coincidences.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
George chooses to stay despite mounting evidence of danger. After a particularly terrifying night where Chelsea nearly dies on the roof following "Jodie," George insists they remain, saying they can't afford to leave. He commits the family to the house.
Mirror World
Kathy attempts to maintain normalcy and connection with George, trying to reach the man she married beneath his growing coldness. Their intimate moment is interrupted by his violent reaction, showing how the house is destroying their relationship—the thematic core of family vs. evil.
Premise
Full horror premise unfolds: George becomes increasingly violent and obsessed with the basement, chopping wood maniacally in freezing weather. Chelsea's interactions with Jodie grow more sinister. Babysitter Lisa is locked in the closet by an unseen force. Kathy researches the house's history and discovers the horrific truth about Reverend Ketcham's torture chamber.
Midpoint
Kathy discovers the hidden room in the basement where Reverend Ketcham tortured and murdered Native Americans. She realizes the house's evil is real and ancient. This false defeat moment reveals the true stakes—they're not dealing with a haunting but with demonic evil that seeks to possess George completely.
Opposition
George's possession accelerates—he becomes unrecognizable, violent, and dangerous to the family. Billy is attacked in his bedroom. Kathy desperately tries to get help from Father Callaway but he's too traumatized to return. The house actively prevents them from leaving, killing their dog and manipulating reality. George nearly kills Michael with an axe.
Collapse
George fully transforms into the demonic entity, raising a rifle to murder his family just as Ronald DeFeo did. Kathy realizes her husband is gone, replaced by something evil. The family she fought to protect is about to be destroyed by the man who promised to love them.
Crisis
Kathy faces her darkest moment—she must choose between saving George and saving her children. George battles internally against possession while physically hunting his family through the house. Kathy gathers the children, realizing they must flee even if it means losing George forever.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Kathy makes the active choice to fight back. Instead of fleeing, she confronts George directly, calling out to the man she loves beneath the possession. She refuses to abandon him, synthesizing her role as protector of both husband and children. Her love becomes the weapon against the demon.
Synthesis
Kathy's love breaks through George's possession long enough for him to resist. He tells them to run. The family escapes the house as George fights to follow, ultimately breaking free of the demon's control. They flee into the night, abandoning everything. The house burns behind them (metaphorically defeating the evil).