Origins
The Frightening Events Found to Inspire The Amityville Horrors
The house and horrors behind the film
The Amityville Horror has been a popular horror film for many generations. Children like to scare each other into watching it; however, not everyone knows that the horror is based on two real-life experiences. The incidents happened to two separate families. The house which is the lead character in the film has been renovated considerably from the one we see on the screen. Many of the external shots for the film, being shot at the actual location. The Amityville Horror house is now known simply as 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville.
The De Feo Murders
On 13th November 1974, the house became a notorious crime scene. Ronald De Feo Jnr killed his parents and four siblings in their sleep with a rifle. He claimed later that the voices made him do it, a statement he has since retracted.
Ronald was the oldest son to an abusive father and a passive mother. His family were considered well to do and deeply religious. His father worked at a car dealership in Brooklyn, where his son also worked. Their relationship was said to be strained. Ronald Jnr had a history of substance abuse. He liked to drink, take drugs and get into fights.
