The Amityville Horror Essays

Imagery in Horror Many authors utilize an array of literary devices and techniques with the intention of adding depth to their narrative. If done correctly, the literary technique could enhance the reader’s connection to what is happening in the story. I think horror is a genre of literature that could benefit the most from literary techniques. Depending on which technique is used, it could place the reader directly into the creepy setting in which the story takes place: thus instilling a sense

The Amityville Horror has long been one of the most extreme, popular, and controversial paranormal events in North America, especially within the last 40 years. It began on November 13, 1974 when Ronald “Butch” DeFeo, Jr. murdered his father, mother, two sisters, and two brothers at their house at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York. There is much controversy surrounding the 1974 murders because no one really knows exactly what happened, even though DeFeo was tried and found guilty on six counts

The house at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York, has supposedly been haunted since the late 70s. Haunted houses are no surprise to most people. They usually have a tragic backstory or death surrounding the house. One of the most famous of these is the Amityville horror. On November 13, 1974, the mass murder of the DeFeos in their Mityville home was reported. The Defos are mom, dad, two daughters, and three sons. The victims Ronald DeFeo Sr, “Lousie, daughters Down, 18, and Allison, 13, and

Horror films have the capacity to be utilized as vehicles to discuss or address issues of social change and societal transformation. This essay is concerned with the function of the nuclear family in horror films. The question that is the focus of this essay is: how does the horror film use the family to address social issues? Therefore, this essay theorizes that horror films utilize the nuclear family to demonstrate the impact and effect that societal change can have on individuals within the family

received very positively, being nominated for five Oscars the next year and even winning the award for best leading actress. Today, seven years later, it is still known for Natalie Portman's portrayal of an unstable ballerina. Mostly categorized as a Horror film, Black Swan can also be argued to be a Gothic story realized on film. When watching the film, I was especially interested to see it's Gothic elements and more precisely how tropes like the Gothic monster and the double are handled both when it

In the 1970s, the Amityville Horror emerged as a widely known and contentious account of supernatural terror. The narrative centers around the Lutz family, who relocated to a grand Dutch Colonial house situated in Amityville, New York. In December 1975, George and Kathleen Lutz, accompanied by Kathleen’s three children from a previous marriage, settled into their new residence at 112 Ocean Avenue. Unbeknownst to them, the house had been the site of a horrifying mass murder merely a year prior

In the later part of the 1970’s, Edward and Lorraine Warren would conduct an investigation on the now well-known house in the city of Amityville as a result of concerns from the homeowner at the time. Ed was a demonologist, while Lorraine was a trance medium, which Reverend Stefanidakis defines as having the gift that allows the spiritual communicator to speak through her consciously. While in the house, Lorraine’s gift enabled her to experience unpleasant visions and was be given disturbing messages;

How is the horror genre element of foreshadowing shown in “The Black Cat”? The strongest example of foreshadowing comes in the form of the black and white cat, who not only is missing an eye like Pluto, reminding his narrator of his violent act; but his white mark on his chest changes shape to look like the gallows. This foreshadows the judgement that will ultimately find the narrator. The quote, “Yet, mad am I not- and very surely do I not dream. But tomorrow I die, and today I would unburthen my

Do you remember stories of the boogeyman from childhood? Well for the kids of Maycomb they have their own sort of boogeyman, he goes by the name of Boo Radley. Not only is he the source of nightmares for the kids of Maycomb, but a source of fascination for every reader. Boo Radley is the most interesting character so far because of all the folklore about him, his motivation for hiding out, and the children's fascination with him. “Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks;

The Haunting Retribution of a Tortured Man The “Tell Tale Heart”, published in 1843, is a gothic short story written by the infamous author Edgar Allen Poe. Poe is known for many poems and short stories such as “The Raven” and “The Fall of the House of Usher” to name a few. “The Tell Tale Heart” is an eerie fiction of an unreliable narrator attempting to convince the reader of his sanity. In doing so, he reveals more about his insanity while he tells the tale of a dark deed. The narrator is psychotic

completely feminised the hell out of that handsome jock). It is one of the most viscerally assaulting pictures ever produced; a film so utterly subversive in craft that rivals the greats of Hitchcock or Carpenter. “Funny Games” is a masterwork of horror, a film that pierces our minds with stunning imagery, symbolism, dark humour and, implicit violence with hyperbolic effectiveness. The premise is simple –a vacationing family who gets an unexpected visit from two deeply disturbed young men. Their

What is the definition of crazy? Crazy means to be mentally deranged, especially as manifested in a wild or aggressive way. And that is the definition of the main character in the story “Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe. The story “Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe is told in the first person perspective by the main character who is the narrator. It starts with the narrator. This narrator wants to kill an old man.The reason for this is because of the old man's “ugly eye”. Thus the narrator

When one compares two monsters such as a zombie and a vampire it is easy to see the differences between them. Zombies and vampires have more differences than they do similarities. With one being a walking corpse only seeking the consumption of flesh, and the other being a blood sucking un-dead creature with some human qualities. These monsters also represent specific fears that people have, and in return make the people of today so much more drawn to these movies. People like things they can relate

I predict that the kids won’t see Boo. The first reason I think they won’t see Boo is because he is rarely ever seen outside. People in the town rarely see Boo because he was in a gang with a couple other people, they got in trouble and Boo had to go to court but his dad made a deal with the judge to keep Boo inside the house so he will be able to watch Boo. After Boo got put in the house he has rarely been seen outside. Another reason the kids have never seen Boo is because Boo doesn’t go to church

I predict that the children will not meet Boo Radley because he is locked up in his house and because of how scared of him they are. The first reason I believe this to be true is because he is locked up in his house. Many years ago, when Boo was thirty-three years old, he was sentenced and locked up for a crime. The crime being, driving a pair of scissors into his father’s leg, while he was just calmly cutting items out of The Maycomb Tribune. As a result of his actions, Boo was locked up in

In the poem “Mid-Term Break,” Seamus Heaney expresses the reality that death provokes in a family and within himself through the use of devices such as emotional diction and symbols. First off, Heaney begins the piece by having the speaker observe the family members around him, seeing all the grief and sorrow that has engulfed them from the tragic death of his little brother. The family members observed are rather openly distressed, for they seem to express their feelings rather than contain them

Giff, Patricia, Reilly., Pictures of Hollis Woods, Dell Yearling, New York, 2002, 166p. Sammy: Hollis Woods is a foster child who doesn’t like to stay in one place for long. She made herself the reputation of being a handful. One thing Hollis loved to do was draw. She drew several memories in her life and always had a special meaning of her own to them all. Hollis was placed with the Regan family. Mr. Regan, Izzy, and their son, Steven. The Regan’s were different from all the other familiar she

Horror Films Horror Films are defined as unsettling films created to scare and frighten; cause stress, alarm and dread; and to awaken the worst hidden fears that are locked away in people’s subconscious, often in a terrifying and shocking climax while capturing their ascination at the same time (http://www.filmsite.org/horrorfilms.html) Horror films are easy to identify because they have a distinguished and recognizable pattern that happens again and again. They play on the audiences’ primal fears;

you define the horror genre and it’s characteristics of what it contains? My perspective of how the genre of horror is categorized. Many people describe the horror genre as being related to monsters, well that’s not so, all of the horror genres contain the five elements of the horror genre, but not all deal with monsters. Like the monkey’s paw and the tell-tale heart, most horror genres contain the elements; fear, surprise, suspense, mystery, and spoiler. These elements give the horror genre a great

receive it”. Horror is a genre that seeks to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on their fears. “The Monkey’s Paw” falls perfectly in this genre. “The Monkey’s Paw” is a horror story written by W.W Jacobs. In the story,the monkey’s paw grants three wishes to three different people. The wishes always lead to a bad event in life. “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W Jacobs fits the criteria necessary to make it a part of the horror genre because of the source of horror, the suspense