Amityville II: The Possession (1982)
Film details
Horror · Damiano Damiani · 1h 44min
Synopsis
Anthony and Dolores Montelli, along with their four children, move into their dream house in Amityville and are immediately plagued by a string of paranormal experiences. When the abusive Anthony wrongly places the blame on their children, Dolores recruits a local Catholic priest to exorcise the house.
Verdict
Horror with graphic violence and disturbing sexual content. For mature adults only.
In-depth analysis
This prequel to The Amityville Horror is an exercise in supernatural horror that crosses several lines in terms of form. The film presents graphic and disturbing violence: a son possessed by a demon murders his family, and the staging does not stint on visual cruelty. However, the most problematic aspect is the sexual content: it includes a scene of implied incest between adolescent siblings which, though not explicit, is unequivocal in its intent and profoundly unsettling. The direction uses supernatural horror as a vehicle to explore familial degradation in its darkest form.
On the spiritual plane, the film seriously addresses the reality of demonic evil and the necessity of exorcism. The priest is presented as a hero who confronts evil with the authority of the Church, and the final battle is genuinely spiritual. There is no deconstruction of faith nor relativism: evil is real, and only grace can overcome it. However, the combination of raw violence and disturbing sexual content makes this work appropriate solely for adults with formed judgment and a strong constitution. It is not recommended for family environments.