The Amityville franchise has given us so much over the years: haunted houses, demonic possession, and enough sequels and spin-offs to make even the most avid horror fan want to crawl under the covers and never come out. But Amityville: The Awakening? This isn’t just another chapter in a long-running series, it’s more like the cousin at the family reunion who insists on bringing their pet snake for “emotional support.” Sure, it’s there… but nobody’s happy about it.
Directed by Franck Khalfoun and starring Bella Thorne as Belle, the film takes the Amityville saga into the modern age, but doesn’t quite figure out how to bring the scares with it. This is a movie that forgets it’s supposed to be scary and instead settles for cringeworthy moments, awkward performances, and enough plot holes to drive a ghost truck through.
Let’s dive in—because at this point, I’m pretty sure the Amityville franchise deserves all the exorcisms it can get.
The Plot: A Slow Trainwreck with Demons on Board
To put it mildly, the plot of Amityville: The Awakening is about as fresh as a week-old corpse—completely devoid of life and a constant reminder that something went horribly wrong. The movie starts with Belle Walker (played by Bella Thorne) and her family moving into the infamous 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville. Why, you ask? Because the family has been forced into relocating to this house to be closer to a neurologist, Dr. Ken Milton, who’s trying to “fix” her paralyzed twin brother, James (Cameron Monaghan). Yes, you read that correctly—paralyzed twin brother. The horror movie equivalent of someone deciding to buy a haunted house to fix their plumbing.
The story kicks off in typical Amityville fashion—strange happenings, flickering lights, and a general sense that things are about to go south. The ghostly activity gets a bit more personal when Belle’s brother, James, is seemingly possessed after being revived from a coma, and his sudden ability to communicate through a computer system (ah yes, the classic “technology as a plot device” horror staple) makes everything way more uncomfortable. The entire family becomes ensnared in the haunted house’s embrace, and things quickly spiral into murder, mayhem, and a twist that you’ll see coming like a truck full of possessed furniture.
The Cast: Are They Acting, or Just Trying to Escape?
Bella Thorne as Belle is, well, Bella Thorne. She’s there. She says lines. Occasionally, she looks scared—though whether it’s from the supernatural forces or the script is anyone’s guess. Belle is supposed to be our protagonist, but unfortunately, she spends most of the film looking confused and forced into screaming at inanimate objects. Maybe it’s the plot, maybe it’s the direction, but Thorne is about as convincing as a discount exorcist trying to perform a ritual with a YouTube tutorial.
Cameron Monaghan plays James, and while he gives it his best shot, I’m not sure what exactly he’s acting for. His character spends much of the movie locked in a “suddenly-possessed, but also mostly paralyzed” state. Picture a 24/7 exorcism, but with less effective results and more “wait, is he supposed to be possessed or just really tired?” moments. His performance could be described as “meh,” which is the exact same feeling you’ll have after watching the film. Honestly, you could swap him out for a mannequin, and I think the movie would still have the same emotional impact.
Then there’s Jennifer Jason Leigh as Joan, Belle and James’s mother. Look, I adore Jennifer Jason Leigh, but even her great acting skills can’t save her here. She spends most of the movie either crying, looking concerned, or making strange decisions. And, like every other character in this film, she seems completely unaware that she’s in a horror movie. Her descent into madness might be the most believable thing in the film, but even then, it’s about as riveting as watching someone organize their closet in slow motion.
The Horror: Jump Scares, Regurgitated Plot, and a Seriously Uninspired Demon
Let’s talk about the “horror” in Amityville: The Awakening—because if this film qualifies as terrifying, then I’m a demon’s uncle. This movie leans heavily on the usual Amityville playbook: flickering lights, mysterious noises, and the occasional creepy doll. But here’s the kicker: It’s all so underwhelming that you’ll be more spooked by the fact that you’re still watching it. The jump scares are so predictable that you could set a timer and still jump only because you’re startled at the movie’s inability to surprise you.
The demon-possessed James? Not scary. The house itself? More like a fixer-upper in a bad neighborhood that definitelyneeds a couple of exorcisms, preferably by a more competent team. The supernatural happenings are so laughably bad that at some points, you may find yourself wondering if this movie accidentally slid into the comedy section.
The Clichés: As Dead as the Movie’s Plot
Where do I even begin with the clichés? Oh, don’t worry, they’re all here. The family moves into a creepy old house with a tragic backstory, there’s a demon haunting a family member, a priest shows up with all the right things to say, and let’s not forget the classic horror movie twist where it turns out that a family member was already dead. The sheer predictability of it all is enough to make you sigh and reach for the remote. But, alas, you can’t escape because the film is already in your subconscious like an evil poltergeist.
The Ending: An Underwhelming Graveyard of Potential
The finale of Amityville: The Awakening is, for lack of a better word, anticlimactic. You’d think with all the tension and drama building up, there would be some spectacular moment of reckoning. Instead, we’re treated to a slapdash ending that doesn’t deliver the satisfaction of an actual exorcism or a satisfying conclusion. Belle (you know, the girl who actually survived this mess) is left to deal with the aftermath, and you’re left wondering, “Was that it?”
Of course, we’re also treated to the fact that the Amityville house’s curse is far from over, which—let’s be honest—is a great metaphor for this entire series. It’s a never-ending nightmare where nothing gets fixed and nothing is ever truly satisfying.
Conclusion: An Exorcism of Your Time and Patience
If you came to Amityville: The Awakening hoping for a mind-blowing supernatural thriller, you’re in the wrong place. This movie is about as terrifying as a damp sponge—and it leaves you feeling more exhausted than terrified. The acting, the scares, and the plot are all out of sync with the horror genre, making this more of a trainwreck than a spine-chiller. In a world full of demonic possessions, this is the one that needs an exorcism. Preferably, one that doesn’t take 90 minutes of your life away.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Watch it for: Laughs, if you’re looking for a movie that’s so bad, it’s almost good—but not quite.
Mood: “I need an exorcism after watching this.”
