NEW YORK: "Amityville Horror," a reincarnation of a 1979 movie of the same name, is making waves, not for the horror it is expected to create, but basically for Ryan Reynolds' portrayal of a head of a hybrid family, who is driven insane.
The movie, based on the book of the same name about the Lutz family's real life experience at the strange house in Amityville, New York, attempts to create creeping horror, but fails.
But, Reynolds enacts the role as the head of the family to near perfection. Unlike the comedian he is (party animal Van Wilder in National Lampoon's "Van Wilder" and the key role in "Blade: Trinity"), Reynolds plays George Lutz, a construction company owner, who sinks his savings into a hulking Long Island manor. He, wife Kathy (Melissa George) and three kids move to the new place despite being told that a murder has taken place there a year before.
Reynolds says he did not absorb the horror side of the movie, but tried to enact the role of George, who transforms from a happy-go-lucky person to a near psycho. In his increasing insanity, eventual ax-wielding and frequent bare chests, he is fun.
Says Reynolds: "I let Andrew Douglas (the English director) shoot the horror movie and I shot the drama with George Lutz. We went into it with that agreement."
Has he succeeded? It is a matter of opinion. But, he has combined his acting talent with his sex appeal. He has a solid body, which he developed for "Blade: Trinity", and which was shot just ahead of this movie.
The original ''Amityville," with James Brolin and Margot Kidder, was neither scary nor successfully allegorical.
Reynolds gets the best role and makes the most of it. Witty and charming even as he is driven insane by the house, he makes over the turn to the crazy murderer easily and believably.
The "Amityville" Horror is a well put together film, but it is ultimately just not scary.
