Amityville II: The Possession
(Possession/House/Excorcism) 8********skulls
* Blood * Violent * Some Strong Language * Sexual Situations *
1982/Color/110 Min./Embassy Home Entertainment/Orion Pictures
& Dino DeLaurentis Corporation/Rated R
Director............Damiano Damiani (The Empty Canvas, The Inquiry)
Screenplay......Tommy Lee Wallace (Fright Nite II, Halloween III, It)
Music...............Lalo Schifrin
Producer.........Ira N. Smith and Stephen R. Greenwald
Executive Producer.....Bernard William
Based on the novel "Murder in Amityville" by Hans Holzer
Dramatis Personae
Father Adamski.....James Olson (Andromeda Strain, Strange New World)
Montelli...........Burt Young(Chinatown, The Choirboys, Rocky,II,IV,V)
Delores Montelli...Rutanya Alda (Apprentice to Murder, The Dark Half)
Sonny Montelli.....Jack Magner
Father Tom.........Andrew Prine (The Evil, Gettysburg, Miracle Worker)
Patricia Montelli..Diane Franklin (Better Off Dead, Terror Vision)
Tarner.............Moses Gunn (Alligator, Heartbreak Ridge, Shaft)
Mr. Booth..........Ted Ross (Fighting Back, The Wiz)
Jan Montelli.......Erika Katz
Mark Montelli......Brent Katz
Critique: Although very well done, there are pace problems in the first part of this movie, but things liven right up in the second half. The relationship between brother and sister and the mother's fear of same is a chilling prelude to the terror evoked in the massacre scene. Likewise, Adamski's guilt at his own fears and desires is played masterfully throughout, building to a violent chess game in which the demon implements this knowledge cunningly. The special effects are excellent, reminiscent of "The Exorcist", as indeed the entire film owes a debt to this possession precursor.
Plot Summary: Not surprisingly, the Amityville house is for sale again. The happy Montelli family arrives. It looks like a lower class of people is moving into the house. Dad's a bit autocratic. Sonny boy doesn't much like something about those two windows at the top of the house. Neither do we. Dear dear, plumbing problems in the first five minutes? But they clear up. Brother and sister play a game where they can "feel" something in the house, a boy who loved someone who didn't love her. Poor Sonny boy, dominated by a bitter father, without many friends. Was it the best thing for him to move into the house at Ammityville? The plumber goes beneath to check the plumbing. there's billions of flies down there. Is something watching mother (Dolores) as she pokes around the basement? She feels an occult breeze for a moment...and then Sonny comes down the stairs. "Somebody touched me'. Imagination is the explanation. They sit down to prayer, and a mirror falls. And seems to crack only well after the fall. Again, there's something in the basement, the camera follows its ascent to the house. It stops a moment at the crucifix and pulls a table spread over it. Sonny's shaving is observed. Later, there's a late night banging on the door. Just kids, no doubt. Dolores doesn't like the fact that the crucifix has been covered. The kids like it less when things in their room start blowing around. "Dishonor thy father, pigs' is painted on the wall. Daddy doesn't take this very well at all, proceeding to smash at the mother and kids, but settles down when Sonny places the 12 gauge against his cheek. Sonny's been getting commands through his headphones. The local pastor, father Adamski comes by to bless the house. Daddy is opposed to it, but he puts up with it. When Sonny and Father Adamski clasp hands, everything in the kitchen goes crazy, and blaming the kids, daddy's at it again. Adamski leaves, but finds his mistle shredded. Daddy is convinced to go apologize to the priest, and all but Sonny go. He's left in the house with bumps and noises. He hears a moaning whispering in the basement and goes to investigate. There seems to be something living in the grimy back cellar. When things get too hot for Sonny he retreats to the house. Something we can't see is tormenting Sonny. Sonny's not looking too good. The daughter suspects mother's not having sex with mom. Sonny then suggest that he and Trish play a game where she's the beautiful model and he's the photographer. He asks her to take her nightgown off. Soon he is kissing her. She confesses to father Adamski that her "friend" has sex with her to hurt God. Father Adamski comes by to bless the house. the doesn't seem to be setting well with Sonny. When the priest sees him., his door seems to close on its own. Attempts to bless Dolores' bed, however, appear to bring a pool of blood out. Adamski later decides the house needs an exorcism. However, the hierarchy balks at any precipitous behavior. It's Sonny's birthday. Just when things were looking okay, with a few awkward moments, Sonny's having further problems up in his room. Trish says she doesn't feel guilty about what's happening. The relationship between brother and sister is truly frightening for its sexual tension and taboo. When Trisha calls the priest and he refuses to answer, it looks like they're on their own. That night, Sonny's really looking peaked, having taken on the look of ol' John Ketchum. Pretty soon, the mayhem begins. This is a scary scene. Trish is locked in the house and it looks like she's the only one left. Frank Adamski wakes up to a nightmare and must get to Ammityville. A cross is found upside down outside the house. Sonny doesn't remember. Later Father Adamski tries to get through to him. The assessment is that the boy's possessed. Good call. Father Adamski looks into some of the facts about the house. A woman expelled for witchcraft violated laws by building on an Indian burial ground. People who live there are desecrators. The defense decides to plea demonic possession. That is summarily dismissed. The exorcism is not accepted by the hierarchy. Back in the prison hospital, Sonny's not looking too good. Moses gives father Adamski his keys and has him knock him out. He then takes Sonny out the back fire escape. the intention is to give the boy an exorcism. But the boy escapes in fire before they can enter the church. Adamski returns to Ammityville. Down in the cellar, creatures of darkness start shuffling from the back basement. Invoking God sets off torrents of blood and occult winds. The struggle with possessed Sonny continues. Sonny's looking pretty deathly. The trickster becomes Trisha and announces that when she was making confession he had thought about making love to her. I like you Adamski. You can dominate like your bishops. He is disobeying the church, and hence is alone. Apparently he can go it alone. Sonny is taken away by the police, but Adamski is looking pretty peaked. There's a house for sale in Ammityville far below market prices.