The Amityville Horror : That house was so run down!

I know it was 1979, so styles were very different, but when the Lutzes first go to see the house it looked SOOO run down inside, that wallpaper alone looked like it hadn't been updated or even cleaned since 1960!


"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

I think the point they were trying to make was that it was an old house that maybe needed some work...and also they probably wanted it to look a little creepy. The implication in the story is that it's more house than the Lutzes needed or could really afford, but it was a bargain because a family was murdered there, so they snapped it up. The real house, (now 108 Ocean Ave) looks really nice, and sold for almost a million dollars a couple years ago.

The whole house was rundown and creepy, especially the 3rd floor.

The real estate agent was very amateurish and came across as a dingbat.

Not everyone during that time period was obsessed with interior design fashion. This youth generation is really anal about interior design.

I don't think it was actually that run down. That is a very beautiful, affluent area. It's possible but not likely.

Eve is right, the house wasn't run down at all. The DeFao murders happened in 74 and the Lutz's bought the house in '75. That's hardly enough time to become dilapidated.

It certainly looked dreary & not cared for.
Even the bannister knob comes off when George takes hold of it.
The wallpaper was filthy, the walls dirty, the kitchen was badly in need of updating.



I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus.
Didn't he discover America?
Penfold, shush.

Have you seen photos of what the interior of the DeFeo's house looked like? Yes, as you said styles are different, but the house looked run down when they were alive also. Mismatched furniture, worn carpeting, dingy walls, woodwork that needed refinishing, and quite messy. Even for the 1970's it looked cheap.

Great balls of fire!...*hiccup*...It's Rhett!

From what I have heard about Defeo senior, I was not surprised at the pre murder photos of the home. It was pretty ghetto fabulous tacky, complete with ruby red shag carpeting, bejeweled chandeliers, painted portraits of the family that adorned the staircase wall as if they were royalty, horridly blinding wallpaper that had no scheme whatsoever....yikes...you would need sunglasses to enter that house.

I also recall seeing a room with large multi colored polka dots on the walls. They must have been doing a lot of PCP up in there.

Great balls of fire!...*hiccup*...It's Rhett!

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I also recall seeing a room with large multi colored polka dots on the walls.

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Yup, that was Butch's room! The room with the creepy windows. That was some seriously offensive wallpaper. I mean even for that time it was tacky. I agree the rest of the house was not very esthetically pleasing. Lots of very dark garish colors especially the wallpapers and carpets. Those large portraits near the staircases were particularly gaudy.

The house in the movie just looked very dingy. The walls were very dull and it looked badly in need of a paint job. But the outside was gorgeous.

As for the real estate lady I think she just wanted to get the hell out of there as quickly as possible.

-Di

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As for the real estate lady I think she just wanted to get the hell out of there as quickly as possible.

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She did when she was alone in the kitchen sitting at the table. She felt a slight breeze and hightailed it out of there! 

That was Ronald (Butch) DeFeo's room. Yes h was a junkie.

It was the 70s. That was the style.

The DeFeo's house might not have had matching furniture but, that house was spotless.