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Click here to download the iPhone app That’s how Sister Francis Dominici Piscatella — the world’s oldest living nun — jokingly explains her secret to living such a long life “I’m glad to be famous for something,” the Amityville nun said when journalist Kristy McNally informed her that she was not only the oldest living nun in the country The Central Islip native offically became the globe’s oldest nun when 116-year-old Brazilian nun who had been the world’s oldest person Currently listed by the Gerentology Research Group as the world’s 56th oldest person Piscatella was featured over the weekend in a News 12 report visiting with McNally at the Queen of the Rosary Motherhouse of the Sisters of St Born Ursula Piscatella on April 20 the supercentenarian had long ago lived through two world wars and the Great Depression was Piscatella’s eighth pope since she entered the order At 2 years old, she lost her left forearm in a train accident an event that would shape her resilience and independence Despite being turned away by several religious communities due to her disability Piscatella pursued her passion for education earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from St She dedicated over 90 years to religious life including 52 years teaching at Dominican-founded Molloy University before retiring at 84.​ Only recently — last June — did Piscatella move into the assisted-living floor of the motherhouse, according to a Catholic Review report Piscatella had been sharing an East Williston condominium for several years with fellow Dominican Sister Francis Daniel Kammer While life is a bit quieter these days for Piscatella attending Mass and participating in community activities at the motherhouse At one time I thought (presence) was a word that was instigated Some 30 family members helped Piscatella celebrate her birthday following East Sunday Mass Top photo: Sister Francis Dominici Piscatella celebrates her 112th birthday in Amityville She is the world’s oldest living nun Tap here to see what’s happening Erotic Survival Thriller ‘Bone Lake’ Sets October Theatrical Release Date Five Horror Movies Inspired by Fairy Tales to Stream This Week Multiverse Revenge Thriller ‘Redux Redux’ Acquired by Saban for Theatrical Release ‘Together’ Trailer – Alison Brie & Dave Franco’s Love and Flesh Get Corrupted Rock Climbing Survival Horror ‘The Sound’ Will Release in June ‘The Last of Us Part II’ Character Makes Violent Entrance in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Netflix Renews Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Series ‘The Eternaut’ for Season 2 ‘Revival’ Trailer Brings the Dead Back to Life in SYFY Comic Book Adaptation Series Check Into Shudder’s ‘Hell Motel’ from the Creators of ‘Slasher’ [Trailer] Matthew Lillard in Talks to Join Mike Flanagan’s ‘Carrie’ TV Series Director Haylie Duff’s ‘I Am Your Biggest Fan’ Is a Predictable But Watchable Kidnapping Thriller [Review] ‘Rosario’ Review – Family Curse Horror Story Gets Caught in Familiar Possession Trappings ‘The Horror at Highrook’ Nails the Cosmic Horror Blendo Games’ Immersive Sim ‘Skin Deep’ Is Hilarious and Exhilarating [Review] ‘Until Dawn’ Review – Kitchen Sink Creature Feature Fails Its Source Material Let’s Cast a ‘White Lotus’ Season With Stephen King Characters Salem Horror Fest 2025 Opening Night Raises Hell with Ashley Laurence [Event Report] 6 Recent Free-to-Play Horror Games That’ll Give You Nightmares Supernatural Tactical Extraction Shooter ‘Nightmare Frontier’ Comes to Steam This Summer [Trailer] a ‘FAITH’-Inspired Farming Sim Coming This October [Trailer] ‘Clock Tower’-Inspired Survival Horror Title ‘Midnight Special’ Launches May 8 on Steam [Trailer] Body Horror Sim ‘Zoochosis’ Announced for PlayStation Consoles [Trailer] Latest ‘Elden Ring Nightreign’ Trailer Highlights the Game’s Systems [Watch] For more than two years, Joe Lipsett has dissected Amityville Horror films to explore how the “franchise” has evolved in increasingly ludicrous directions. This is “The Amityville IP.” To say that I was going into Amityville VR with trepidation after the failure of its predecessor, Amityville AI the first film struggled to even understand its own title so what fresh hell would a foray into VR entail colour me surprised because while VR isn’t suddenly topping my “under seen and under appreciated” list of horror titles it is a far more interesting and watchable film than AI Both films hail from director Matt Jaissle and follow software developer Stuart Birdsall (William Childress) but the sequel dramatically cuts down on the latter’s presence some time has passed since the events of AI; in the interim the nefarious homicidal program has shut down all government computers and networks essentially dooming humanity to a (mostly off-screen) dystopia Birdsall is abducted by two federal agents (one played by Jim Bunny Bundshuh; the other by Jaissle himself) who insist on plugging Birdsall into a simulated virtual reality world to defeat The Demon Queen (Amanda Foster) who is the embodiment of the computer threat The result requires Birdsall to wander through countless heightened reality environments such as cornfields and suburban houses decorated with Halloween decorations The strength of shifting the narrative to VR is that the majority of the film is presented from the character’s POV This plays more like a first-person video game and simultaneously eliminates one of AI’s biggest issues by taking away most of Childress’ time on screen It should be noted that due to the bare bones budget Amityville VR isn’t the most exciting film barely make any sense (in case you were wondering: Jaissle’s second Amityville film appears to understand VR only slightly better than its predecessor understood AI) tech-savvy world that the production design and art department couldn’t deliver in a believable way if the world looks a little wonky or the “VR game” lacks structure or rules it kinda works to support both the world and the character VR doesn’t actually always look real; in fact As for the film’s tendency to fall into languid and repetitive story beats it can be read (perhaps generously) as a reflection of Birdsall’s uncertainty about what he’s doing The character is trying to 1) figure out and 2) conquer this world (under duress so it’s understandable that he spends significant periods of time wandering around aimlessly exploring the world and dodging the Demon Queen or her minions but at least in this movie it makes a bit more sense Joe is a TV addict with a background in Film Studies He co-created TV/Film Fest blog QueerHorrorMovies and writes for Bloody Disgusting dark beer and plays multiple sports (adequately Joe always opts for slashers and creature features ‘Amityville: The Awakening’ Tips Its Hat to Its Amityville Origins [Murder Made Fiction Podcast] Does ‘Amityville AI’ Even Know What AI Is The Exploitation Vibes of ‘Amityville II: The Possession’ [Murder Made Fiction Podcast] It’s a fairy tale with a gruesome body horror twist This week’s streaming picks highlight other fairy tale-inspired horror movies whether they’re direct adaptations or loosely based on them All blend horror and fantasy to deliver cautionary bedtime tales of the bloody variety Here’s where you can stream these fairy tale inspired horror movies this week For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here. writer/director Mike Flanagan drew inspiration from a few urban myths about tunnels and trolls and that also includes the Norwegian fairy tale Three Billy Goats Gruff So much that it directly factors into the plot Flanagan mainstay Katie Parker stars as Callie a recovering addict who comes to stay with her pregnant sister Tricia’s finally ready to accept that her missing husband is dead but then Callie encounters a strange man in an empty tunnel It’s the beginning of a series of strange events stemming from the tunnel including a supernatural bargain Callie unwittingly strikes Leave it to Flanagan to use urban legends and fairy tales as a haunting and unsettling exploration of grief Before Jaume Balagueró teamed up with Paco Plaza to unleash one of the most terrifying movies of the decade he proved an aptitude for delivering chills with this underseen haunted hospital fairy tale a nurse brought on to the night shift in the children’s ward at an old hospital in the process of closing but her new gig comes with a malevolent ghost Fragile is creepy and atmospheric with effective scares but even better is that Balagueró gives this ghost story an emotional center loosely inspired by Sleeping Beauty filmmaker Oz Perkins reconfigured the classic Grimm fairy tale for a moodier horror story that favors style over a more conventional Think unparalleled production design with impressive sound design and score to match but with its story told in an unconventional and sometimes muddied way the elder sister tasked with protecting her brother from Alice Krige‘s mesmerizing Witch It’s a coming-of-rage sort of fairy tale that sets this adaptation of a classic fairy tale apart It’s also in the stunning stop-motion animation Director Jiří Barta’s 1986 Czech adaptation of Pied Piper of Hamelin introduces a corrupt village consumed by greed and pettiness they turn to a mysterious stranger who offers to lead the rats out of the town for a price Barta’s hand-crafted feature draws from German expressionism gloomy style that suits the horror of this fairy tale well Based on a collection of stories by Italian poet Giambattista Basile this dark horror fantasy film is an anthology that delves into the earliest versions of well-known fairytales; but not always the most obvious ones this fairytale isn’t afraid of gruesome bloodshed and a vain king who prefers to flay the skin of his victims It also boasts a large ensemble cast of recognizable talents like Salma Hayek Executive Circle Awards Growing restaurant chain expands with Amityville warehouse acquisition  Sign up for your daily digest of Long 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d[...] Our mission at Long Island Business News is to be the vital business news and advertising source to Long Island’s most influential readers Get our free LIBN e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions News 12 New YorkDownload the AppWhere to WatchTaxing Long IslandAmityville schools change mascot name to HawksThe school’s mascot was originally the Warriors.News 12 Staff Michael O’Neill at Amityville Village Hall who was term-limited out after eight years When Amityville Trustee Michael O’Neill is sworn in Monday night he will become the 30th mayor in the history of the village Among his early priorities are keeping the budget as tight as possible and addressing traffic safety on Route 110 "There are so many positive things going on in the village right now that I just need to continue guiding it." “I just hope I left the village in better shape than I found it,” Siry said Siry pointed to the development of the AvalonBay apartments He said they led to renewed downtown improvement efforts and the state awarding $10 million in Downtown Revitalization Initiative funds Siry also said he was proud of the upturn in the village’s finances: Its bond rating which was a notch above junk status when he was trustee Siry said he’s happy O’Neill is taking over the helm “He listens to people and is open to new ideas Plus he has the experience as trustee and he knows the history of the village.” defeated two other contenders in last month's mayoral race The mayor serves a four-year term and is paid $14,000 annually Newsday spoke with O’Neill about his next steps The conversation has been edited for length and clarity What will be your top priority when you take office The first big thing is we’ve got a budget hearing coming up [on April 28] so putting the final touches on the budget My goal is to be as fiscally prudent as possible and get as close to a zero percent increase as we can Tied into that is we’ve got a police contract that expires in June I’m confident that we’ll be able to work through the whole negotiation process and come up with something that’s fair and equitable for both the taxpayers and the PBA What’s next for the village’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative efforts The biggest part is working with the [state Department of Transportation] on traffic calming on Route 110 There are good things happening in the village but if we don’t address the safety of the traffic We’ve gotten through most of the heavy lifting with the state on that and that should start happening within the next couple of months People will start seeing the results of the grant There was this misconception that the state gave us $10 million and we’re sitting on it How do you prevent misconceptions such as those I think everyone in the world can communicate a whole lot better and we’re no different whether it’s through a mayor’s message that is emailed or some other vehicle There’s no need for any major shake-up in any department so I want to make sure that we are smart in how we proceed and whatever the projects are that we’re very conscious in how we’re spending the money What are some projects that you want to work on We need to work on getting grant money to make sure the infrastructure can be improved The softball field down there could use a little TLC Some residents have complained about AvalonBay’s size and problems with its fire alarm system How do you feel about adding more housing complexes to the village I’m not looking for any large-scale development but I would advocate for owner occupancy whether that’s a small or midsize development we have to let Avalon settle in before we really see the true impact Smart growth doesn’t necessarily mean no growth What would you say to those residents who didn’t vote for you I have heard the concerns raised by the other candidates so I’m aware that I need to listen to those concerns and take them into account when I’m leading the board in decision-making I have confidence in my ability to manage and move things forward Trump's influence on NY's future .. Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months Twice a month Joe Lipsett will dissect a new Amityville Horror film to explore how the “franchise” has evolved in increasingly ludicrous directions. This is “The Amityville IP.” Released in Oct 2024, Amityville: Where The Echo Lives was the last Amityville film released last year Written by Simona Curkoska and Carlos Ayala (who also directs) the film shares a number of the defining qualifiers of the Amityville ‘series.’ So what is Amityville: Where The Echo Lives even about you might find yourself struggling to answer such a question It is ostensibly about 28-year-old Heather West (Sarah McDonald) a paranormal investigator with questionable credentials and dead daddy issues Heather’s father died a year earlier (in 2017) and an intertitle informs us that she has struggled with her sobriety in the intervening year though she is only shown drinking a few times throughout the film.* *I don’t mean to sound glib about a disease like alcoholism but Curkoska and Ayala barely have an interest in exploring Sarah’s addiction beyond a few casual references which begs the question why they felt the need to include it Like many things in Amityville: Where The Echo Lies There’s no inherent point or development; it just exists in the film as well as her gently unmoored current state of mind are conveyed in a multiplicity of ways This includes the aforementioned intertitles which sometimes take the form of Heather’s stream of consciousness poetry as well as voice-over and confessional style recordings which are shot in direct address to the camera like a reality TV and/or social media posts It’s not so much that Heather is good at her job (in fact she struggles to drum up work) but rather that she feels obliged to continue the family tradition An intertitle reveals her father was a well-known paranormal investigator and Heather admits in one confessional video that she and her father talked about the spirit realm “all of the time” and she promised her father she would work in the field All of this (mostly meaningless) character exposition is wrapped around Heather’s main case which is outlined in an info dump of written exposition at the start of the film In 1999 (or 19 years earlier in the world of the film) a young girl named Maryanne (Breanna Rossi) was killed by a serial killer named Ronny Busik and her body was never recovered There’s plenty of extra information (none of which ultimately matters to the narrative) but Heather’s exploration of the attic of a woman named Rosa inevitably ties into Maryanne’s murder This is confirmed in both Heather’s spectral readings and – more concretely – by whispers from Maryanne This sounds far more interesting than it actually is: 98% of the film is McDonald standing or sitting around In a bizarre creative decision (and counter to how these narratives traditionally unfold) The film ends with Heather being inundated with visions – both sleeping and awake – of Maryanne’s death but the film effectively ends with Heather “leading” Maryanne by the hand into the light Apparently that’s all it took to put her soul (and maybe Heather’s?) at rest This does not a 90 minute movie make, though. Amityville: Where the Echo Lives is just another in a long line of films in the “franchise” that overstay their welcome. It’s exceedingly boring and without the advent of a shit-talking turkey or the stupidity of an exploding backpack there’s simply nothing here worth watching What’s interesting is that these are secret Amityville films We’ll investigate next time when we examine 2015’s The Unspoken Sequel ‘Amityville VR’ Expands Upon the World of ‘Amityville AI’ [The Amityville IP] 2015’s ‘The Unspoken’ Has a Secret ‘Amityville’ Connection [The Amityville IP] Amityville’s Anayah Hampton sprints into the end zone for the first touchdown of the game against Wyandanch in a Suffolk flag football game at Wyandanch on Tuesday Amityville did not believe it played its best brand of flag football in the frigid But it still made the necessary plays to earn a much-needed victory showing palpable growth in their first win in two weeks Amityville’s defense did not surrender a point Alana Henry threw two touchdown passes – a 3-yard pass to Anayah Hampton and an 8-yard toss to Sydney Carter – and Beverley Polelomon had a timely 59-yard touchdown run in a 20-2 road triumph in a Suffolk League II game “It feels great to get a win because we desperately need a win,” Amityville coach Bill Maisel said We are a 10 times better football team than what we showed today “We got to clean a lot of things up going down the road We still have a possibility to be a playoff contender Amityville (2-4) picked up momentum right before halftime Henry connected with Hampton for both a touchdown and one-point conversion to give Amityville a 7-0 lead with 1:06 left in the first half Wyandanch (0-6) cut it to 7-2 with 16:33 left in the game after Amityville fumbled a handoff exchange in its own end zone including a 38-yard fourth-down pass from Nyasia Murphy to Roselyn Sanchez to get to the Amityville 10 but Imani Brown's  flag pull forced a turnover on downs Polelomon’s touchdown run and a one-point pass from Henry to Hampton gave Amityville a 14-2 edge with 6:27 left “But I felt a little faint because I kept running so much Jaelle Aiken had an interception and 20-yard return to the Wyandanch 5 on the next play Henry’s touchdown pass to Carter brought the score to its final margin with 3:37 left “We're getting better every game,” Maisel said “We're starting to really act like a team … You’re standing out here but you're still here cheering on your team This is a very close-knit and special group.” Greater Babylon coverage is funded in part by The Argyle Theatre, where Broadway comes to Babylon. Click here for ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ tickets Your jaw will absolutely drop upon entering the new Mesita Mexican location in downtown Amityville have you looking up at the art that stretches to the ceilings lighted trees and iron balconies of the second floor “You will not feel like you’re in New York,” promises Jonathan Lopez, Mesita Amityville’s general manager “And I just cannot wait to see those people walk in and those smiles and that look of awe and the Mesita team recruited lifelong artist Craig Banks of Seaford who’s built hundreds of Broadway theatre sets across decades His vision was to bring the outdoors in, to make the massive space look and feel like a Mexican zócalo But he certainly had his work cut out for him as the building’s interior had to first be stripped to the bones Here’s how the main space looked before Banks got to work: “When I first saw the space it was still the bank,” Banks said “It was an unusual space; the ceiling was low I was completely overwhelmed by the height to the point where I honestly had no desire to go to the ceiling level and do what I had to do You had to twist your brain — how do you make this into the village “But once the walls went up and we started to add the color in it started to develop itself into the village We added the trees and we just darkened it What comes next — with an opening day planned for sometime later this month — is the energy of the people the sizzling of the fajitas,” Lopez said “It’s going to feel like you’re on vacation; that’s the idea We want you to feel like you’re in Mexico it’s all going to come together in here.” “And wait until you see all the food,” Lopez continued. “The sizzling fajitas, when you smell that walking in here, you’ll just say, ‘I’ll have that!'” Lopez and the ownership team, which opened the first Mesita in Rockville Centre in 2015 before expanding into Garden City and Port Washington, said they’re especially excited to welcome the community, as this is their first Suffolk spot. “They’ve been waiting so long for us to open,” Lopez said, recalling all the curious faces he’s seen pressed against the windows over the last few months. “They’re just excited as we are. They’re just waiting for this to happen. “I can’t wait to make it happen for them.” Check back with Greater Long Island for updates. Scroll down for more photos by Nick Esposito. View this post on Instagram A post shared by GLI | Greater Long Island (@greaterlongisland) Amityville’s quarterback Alana Henry passes the ball against Wyandanch in a Suffolk girls flag football game at Wyandanch on Tuesday was one of 13 districts on Long Island impacted by the state’s ban on the use of Native American nicknames and imagery The Amityville Union Free School District recently announced that its new nickname is the Hawks “I wear a bunch of different hats,” Amityville flag football coach Bill Maisel said before his team’s win at Wyandanch on Tuesday I kind of would have liked it to go back to the Crimson Tide I think it's great that the kids got to vote a 1989 Amityville graduate and longtime wrestling coach at the high school is currently an elementary school teacher in the district The Crimson Tide was never an official nickname but it was commonly recognized as one alongside Warriors Other finalists for the new nickname were the Cardinals “I think the kids in my building are just too young to really understand,” Maisel said we could have been called the Amityville Pokemons and they would have been happy because they're 8 But I think the high school kids are happy It's something — you talk about tradition “I know the old-timers are upset that the tradition has kind of faded away but there's always got to be a start for a tradition So this is the start for the new tradition.” The sentiment among the current Amityville flag football captains — Imani Brown Alana Henry and Erin Kreuder — is mixed as well “I feel like Warriors is more original and it fits us better.” But I would have loved to stick with the Warriors.” Kreuder was pleased the students had a role in the process "Well it was nice that they involved the students and then they were put into the final vote So it was nice to see that they cared about the students’ input.” and the athletes recognized there was not much of a choice “I think a lot of people are upset with it With Andy Slawson CORRECTION: Some print editions Wednesday mistakenly repeated Kreuder's quote on the students' role in the process and incorrectly attributed it to Brown News 12 New YorkDownload the AppWhere to WatchTaxing Long IslandPolice: Man fatally struck by car in North AmityvilleThe cause of the crash remains under investigation.News 12 Staff Mesita Mexican’s big reveal in Amityville is almost upon us Mesita which took over a nearly 120-year-old bank building in the downtown and transformed And as we reported earlier this month “You will not feel like you’re in New York,” promised Jonathan Lopez (pictured), Mesita’s general manager “And I just cannot wait to see those people walk in and those smiles and that look of awe and To reimagine the old bank space and its soaring ceilings Banks had built hundreds of Broadway theatre sets across decades. His vision was to bring the outdoors in, to make the massive space look and feel like a Mexican zócalo “It’s going to feel like you’re on vacation; that’s the idea,” Lopez told us “We want you to feel like you’re in Mexico “And wait until you see all the food,” he said The space also boasts a private party and more intimate dining area on the second floor, beyond the wrought iron balconies. Click here for prior coverage 2025 at 12:11 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Amityville School District asked the community to help choose a new mascot NY — After a months-long search for a new mascot the Amityville Union Free School District has announced that the hawk has been chosen to represent the district which school officials called "a powerful symbol of strength and courage," replaces the Warriors as the district's mascot after the state ban on Native American names In November, the school district launched a community survey to gather input on choosing a new mascot. In October, the district dropped a federal lawsuit that sought to keep the name Warriors despite the ban, according to a report by Newsday District officials said changing the mascot was a "thoughtful process" that included gathering new mascot ideas and a community forum to discuss the survey results and foster open dialogue about the change The district also held several focus groups with various student groups and identified the four most frequently suggested options and presented them for a vote by the high school students "I thank our entire school community for participating in this process for spearheading this effort," said Superintendent of Schools Dr "While I understand that changing our mascot brings strong emotions for some I am hopeful that we can move forward together united in pride for our school community." The announcement naming the district’s new mascot was shared through a creative video produced by the high school’s broadcasting students shown at all schools throughout the district via the Amityville Broadcasting Network "I thank our broadcasting students for putting in the time and creativity to make our announcement so special," Farkas said Students will now vote on the official Hawks logo which will be shared with the community soon Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Amityville defeated Wyandanch in a Suffolk flag football matchup on Tuesday Amityville’s Ahjaneake Beauford rushes up field against Wyandanch during a Suffolk flag football game on Tuesday Amityville’s quarterback Alana Henry passes the ball against Wyandanch during a Suffolk flag football game on Tuesday Amityville’s Beverley Polelomon rushes up field against Wyandanch during a Suffolk flag football game on Tuesday Wyandanch’s Nyasia Murphy looks to pass against Amityville during a Suffolk flag football game on Tuesday Amityville’s Anayah Hampton celebrates in the end zone after scoring the first touchdown of the game against Wyandanch during a Suffolk flag football game on Tuesday Amityville’s Anayah Hampton sprints into the end zone for the first touchdown of the game during a Suffolk flag football game on Tuesday Wyandanch’s Mia Hood runs up field against Amityville during a Suffolk flag football game on Tuesday Wyandanch High School’s Mia Hood runs down field against Amityville High School during a Suffolk flag football game on Tuesday Andrea Santos (#22 middle) and her Amityville teammates on the Amityville in the huddle before a Suffolk flag football game on Tuesday Wyandanch quarterback Nyasia Murphy scrambles down field against Amityville during a Suffolk flag football game on Tuesday Wyandanch's Fatima Cabrera sprints down field against Amityville during a Suffolk flag football game on Tuesday Amityville’s Jaelle Aiken intercepts a pass and runs towards the end zone against Wyandanch during a Suffolk flag football game on Tuesday Amityville’s Sydney Carter scores on the one point conversion against Wyandanch during a Suffolk flag football game on Tuesday For more than two years, Joe Lipsett has dissected Amityville Horror films to explore how the “franchise” has evolved in increasingly ludicrous directions. This is “The Amityville IP.” I have no recollection of The Unspoken. Canadian writer/director Sheldon Wilson’s film apparently played at Fright Fest in 2015 before getting a day and date theatrical/VOD release in October 2016, followed by a DVD release from Anchor Bay that December Reviews were middling (9% Rotten albeit based on only 11 reviews) with most critics decrying the film’s reliance on ghostly figures and jump scares lamenting its lack of scariness (an extremely subjective criticism) and protesting its “complicated” story So why is the film a topic of conversation for this editorial Because The Unspoken is a secret Amityville prequel it’s literally only revealed in the film’s closing scene when the film’s antagonists single mom Jeanie (Pascale Hutton) and her mute son Adrian (Sunny Suljic in his film debut) But it’s also part of a larger third act twist that reveals that Jeanie and Adrian are otherworldly beings with telekinetic abilities and that their kind are responsible for Earth’s haunted houses Depending on your appetite for dangling propositions this revelation is either tantalizing or frustrating Because Wilson essentially ends the film on this note The Unspoken fails to unpack or explore the idea in any detail work reasonably well as an answer for both the events of the film and including all of those contained within the Amityville “franchise.” The Unspoken actively incorporates most of the common haunted house tropes throughout its runtime (a fact that clearly contributed to accusations of boring familiarity by critics) Doors and cupboards open and close by themselves; there’s a recurring bit with a sentient marble that closely resembles moments from 2013’s The Conjuring; and folks have a nasty habit of being attacked by an unseen force The Unspoken begins in 1997 when a beat cop discovers a single living occupant at 166 Briar Street but the hanged body of a priest with an upside-down crucifix carved into his forehead and the disappearance of the family hints at a demon and/or possession One is a supernatural film about a financially desperate girl who gets a job as a babysitter for a traumatized boy and his mother when they move into the town’s haunted house The other is a home invasion film about local teen drug dealer Luther (Anthony Konechny) who sneaks into the house with his friends Logan (Jonathan Whitesell) and Rodney (Jake Croker) in order to recover a stash of drugs hidden before Jeanie and Adrian moved in The stories intersect courtesy of Angela’s queer crush who is dating Luther and may (or may not) be gaslighting Angela Eventually all of the characters wind up in the house for a surprisingly violent climax that sees all of the intruders dispatched in clever (albeit too brief) moments of violence Naturally the creepy/powerful kid is another pervasive horror trope. The Unspoken has more in common with 2019’s creepy kid double bill, Eli and The Prodigy Not only is there a suggestion of satanic rituals courtesy of the mutilated animals left around the house (offerings made by Luther and co.) and locked closets that provide plenty of creepy moments The end of The Unspoken suggests that there’s a reason why these tropes are so familiar: these beings play on humanity’s imagination to explain away supernatural hauntings which are actually just their youngsters learning to control their powers That’s why places like Amityville exist: they can easily be written off as (ludicrous) fiction whenever these beings need to take up residence (again and again This explanation is a variant of the one put forth by The Last Amityville Movie (and Wes Craven’s New Nightmare before it) There’s a cyclical element to these events and stories; one that has a perfectly logical explanation the Amityville house (and by extension this entire “franchise”) is simply the result of these otherworldly controlled experiments the answer to the Amityville IP would be something other than money? There’s one final secret Amityville film left to explore: 2019’s The Dawn aka The Amityville Dawn Debating What Makes An Amityville Film [Murder Made Fiction Podcast] 2024 at 2:04 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}​Northeast Elementary School ​opened in 1952 and currently serves approximately 124 students and is the district's only campus that provides a pre-K program NY — Parents in the Amityville Union Free School District are gathering Wednesday evening at the school board meeting in hopes of stopping the proposed closure of Northeast Elementary School on Wednesday at Park Avenue Elementary School Those is opposition of the closure urged parents to attend the meeting to let their "voice be heard" in social media post on Wednesday The closure was first proposed in early 2024 after the board "approved dozens of staff layoffs in the district," according to a report by News12 Superintendent of Schools Gina Talbert broke down the deficit for the public "It’s important to understand that this is not a shortfall in the district’s annual budget but a long-term liability that we are required to report under government accounting rules This amount comes from a calculation of the total cost of future health insurance premiums for retirees which is estimated at $70,496,060," Talbert wrote She added that it's the "main reason" for the deficit and that "all school districts in New York State face similar deficits on their balance sheets due to this reporting rule." Northeast Elementary School opened in 1952 and currently serves approximately 124 students and is the district's only campus that provides a pre-K program. The school’s minority student enrollment is 92 percent, according to U.S. News Amityville school district Superintendent Gina Talbert said several options are being considered to avoid closing Northeast Elementary School for good at the end of the school year After hearing through social media that Amityville's Northeast Elementary School could close for good at the end of the school year said she attended the school board meeting earlier this week to learn the truth said before the meeting Wednesday evening that she had nieces and nephews throughout the district "I think they should try to fight to keep the school open for the community and for the teachers," Bishop said "Amityville school has produced a lot of great Just because it’s Amityville doesn’t mean that people can’t achieve and succeed They have a shot just like anyone else." Amityville schools Superintendent Gina Talbert addressing questions at the meeting about the fate of the school the board of education has been actively discussing the future of Northeast for the 2025-2026 school year but decisions have yet to be finalized," she said Get the latest updates on how education is changing in your district By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy which houses 126 prekindergarteners and 23 students with special needs according to teachers union president Nakia Wolfe faced the threat of closure in the spring when the district had a budget shortfall in the millions The building was saved from shuttering thanks to a last-minute infusion of $2 million in state aid "This was a one-time life preserver that allowed us to continue serving our youngest scholars in this vital space," Talbert said of that $2 million in aid The district is exploring ways to keep Northeast open by generating additional revenue or through other means Annual operating costs for the school are about $1.7 million The Amityville district’s recent financial strains were apparent in March when the school board approved laying off 47 teachers and staff to bridge a $3.6 million budget deficit despite the objections of community members have all been working without a contract since the previous agreement expired in June 2023 About 40 teachers wearing black T-shirts with the phrase "YOU CAN'T PUT STUDENTS FIRST IF YOU PUT TEACHERS LAST," attended Wednesday's meeting Wolfe said negotiations have been ongoing but the union feels it is "spinning our wheels." While fielding public questions Wednesday evening Talbert said "renting and leasing" a portion of Northeast Elementary "so that we can earn revenue to help underwrite the cost" is an option being considered The school maintains a historical significance The district reorganized in the 1960s after an NAACP lawsuit prompted a state Education Department order to desegregate the then nearly all-Black school the district decided to place kindergarten students in Northeast Elementary and split first- through fifth-grade students between Northwest and Park Avenue schools Northwest now has classes for kindergarten through second grade and Park Avenue has students in grades 3 through 5 "We are committed to doing everything in our power to maintaining Northeast Elementary as a place of learning growth and joy for our youngest scholars and their families," Talbert said "Rest assured that this board and administration are considering every option to ensure we provide the best possible outcomes for our students and our community."  Some 50 Amityville community members gathered at Prayer Tabernacle Church of God in Christ on Sunday to discuss how to prevent the potential closing of the district’s Northeast Elementary School The idea was first presented during an April school board meeting to help make up for a district budget deficit that has reached into the millions “The school has been a landmark in this community,” Bishop Walter Willie Jr. “We want to do the right thing for this community and keep Northeast open.” Sunday’s gathering came nine months after the district laid off 47 teachers and staff members from across the district to make up for a $3.6 million budget deficit the Northeast school educates about 120 students — and is the only one in the district that serves pre-K students Community members like Reynolds Hawkins are still unclear as to why the school’s fate is uncertain ‘Why do they want to do this?’” said Hawkins who attended Amityville schools and served as a coach and social worker for over 20 years I’m curious to know why they want to pick this school.” “Why close the one building that sits right in the heart of the African-American community?” Willie said Amityville resident Patricia Hobson (pictured below) was given the floor and mentioned her concerns regarding how the school’s board meetings are run “They start their meetings at 7:30 and the board members ask a lot of bogus questions to prolong the time so that we become restless and go home,” Hobson said “That’s something else that needs to be brought to their attention.” both attended Sunday’s meeting but declined to comment Greater Long Island has reached out to the district with additional questions but has not yet received a response The Town of Babylon’s commissioner for human services and longtime Amityville resident Madeline Quintyne-McConney (pictured above) also argued a case Sunday as to why the school should not be closed “The Northeast Elementary School was built in 1952 to ensure that all of the district’s students would have the opportunity to attend all of its schools,” she said She also said the school is one of the largest polling sites in Suffolk County with around 13,000 to 15,000 people registered to vote there Quintyne-McConney then cited a Newsday article and audit report from state comptroller Tony DiNapoli that pointed out “a lack of programs in schools for pre-k students with special needs,” within the district and an increased demand for pre-K programs overall on Long Island But the main takeaway from the meeting was to encourage everyone to attend the next school board meeting on Wednesday we had Northeast school for years,” Willie said to close out the meeting “Let’s be unified as one group to show that we want Northeast school to remain.” The author, Miya Jones is contributor for Greater Long Island, as well as the founder, editor-in-chief and executive producer of Shades of Long Island Audio Commentary with actor Ryan Reynolds and producers Andrew Form and Brad Fuller The Source of Evil � Making The Amityville Horror (SD 2025 at 8:34 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Amityville School District named Janine O’Connor the new assistant director for pupil personnel services and special education (Courtesy of the Amityville Union Free School District)AMITYVILLE NY — The Amityville School District is proud to announce that Janine O’Connor has been named the new assistant director for pupil personnel services and special education O’Connor attended Long Island University-C.W Post where she received a bachelor of science degree and a master of science degree in general education and special education O’Connor’s educational career began as a teacher aide at Nassau BOCES where she had the privilege of working with special education students O’Connor earned her school district leader and school building leader certification from The College of Saint Rose and she spent the past three years as a special education administrator in the Patchogue-Medford School District "I take pride in my ability to collaborate with administrators and families to create environments where all students can succeed," O’Connor said O’Connor served as the Extended School Year coordinator in the Floral Park-Bellerose School District which enhanced her ability to lead and support diverse learning needs O’Connor has remained dedicated to promoting academic excellence and fostering a sense of community within the schools she has served She firmly believes that every student can succeed when provided with the necessary resources "As I step into my new role here in Amityville I bring with me a strong commitment to student-centered leadership and a passion for fostering inclusive supportive learning environments," O’Connor said we will continue to build upon the traditions of excellence that define the Amityville Union Free School District." Professor Emerita of English and Film Paula Uruburu was featured in a Newsday story about the murders that inspired the Amityville Horror story that produced a book and two films Mark and John Matthew — at their family home on Ocean Avenue in Amityville who grew up near the house and was friends with Dawn DeFeo told Newsday that the book and the original movie found an audience that had been primed by “Vietnam this wholesale malaise going on in this country … Metaphorically it was a representation of all that for people.” She added that the “Amityville Horror” depicted “the destruction of the family” by demonic forces from inside the house and it all came crashing down in the worst way possible.”   A 13th adult has been arrested and charged in connection with the disappearance and sex trafficking case of a 14-year-old Patchogue girl who was missing for 25 days in December and January Court records indicate that Anthony Wright is charged with second-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child The Amityville man pleaded not guilty Tuesday at his arraignment in Suffolk County First District Court in Central Islip; his bail was set bail at $500,000 cash or a $1 million insured bond A criminal complaint alleged that Wright engaged in sexual activity with the teen at his home on Silverpine Drive on Dec. 22 and 23, Newsday reported Detectives said the arrest was based on a sworn written statement provided to investigators on Feb in addition to Wright’s interview with police on Monday Wright is the eighth man charged with raping the teen after she left her home about 5 p.m who Greater Long Island is not identifying because she is a child and the victim of sex crimes 3 on a large boat docked in an Islip marina Wright’s arrest came 17 days after Daniel Soto, 36, of Bay Shore became the 12th Suffolk County resident charged in the case 7 to second-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child the owner of the boat where the girl was found alone was the first suspect arrested in her disappearance The other defendants in the case include Alton Harrell who allegedly picked the teen up in his car outside of her home on Dec he took her to Bellport and allegedly raped her inside a house on Doane Avenue Harrell is charged with second-degree rape and second-degree kidnapping is charged with second-degree kidnapping and second-degree rape Kevin McDonald of Bellport was charged with second-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child Deer Park 42-year-old Deshaun McClean an aide at the psychiatric facility where the teen is being treated and cared for was charged with criminal sexual conduct for allegedly touching the girl in private areas on numerous occasions and also watching her engage in sexual activity while being cared for at the facility of Brentwood faces charges of rape and endangering the welfare of a child is charged with endangering the welfare of a child Each of the defendants deny the charges and have pleaded not guilty Top image: Mugshots of the 12 suspects allegedly involved in the kidnapping rape and sex trafficking case of a 14-year-old Patchogue girl (An aide at the facility where the girl is being treated also has been arrested.) Top row (Images provided by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office) Jon Dowding Die Pay-TV-Sender The HISTORY Channel und Crime + Investigation sowie die Streaming-Services HISTORY Play und Crime + Investigation Play werden im deutschsprachigen Raum von Hearst Networks Germany betrieben und vermarktet Hearst Networks Germany wird vertreten durch die Hearst Networks Germany GmbH & Co. KG mit Sitz in München und ist Teil von Hearst Networks EMEA Die Programmangebote von Hearst Networks Germany bestehen zu einem Großteil aus eigenproduzierten Formaten des US-Medienunternehmens A+E Global Media einem international führenden Produzenten im Bereich Factual Entertainment mit exklusiven Serien und Doku-Reihen wie „Oak Island – Fluch und Legende“  und „The First 48“ die Hearst Networks Germany für das deutschsprachige Publikum realisierte „Guardians of Heritage – Hüter der Geschichte“ „The Invisible Line – Die Geschichte der Welle“ und „Im Angesicht“.  Weitere Informationen unter: history.de | crimeandinvestigation.de I hearstnetworks.com Start von „Kevin Costner’s The West“ am Sonntag um 20:15 Uhr als deutsche TV-Premiere auf The HISTORY Channel 2024 at 11:05 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Amityville School District wants the community to help choose a new mascot NY —Amityville School District is enlisting its community to help choose a new mascot after dropping the Warriors mascot in light of the state ban on Native American names The school district has started the process of identifying a new mascot and has launched a survey for all community members to share their input the district said it encourages "all residents staff and students to participate in the survey which will help to identify those values and themes that the district’s new mascot should represent." In October, the school district dropped a federal lawsuit that sought to keep its Warriors nickname despite the state ban on Native American mascots, according to a report by Newsday Click here for the survey in English. Click here for the survey in Spanish. Jerimiah Webb of Wyandanch puts up a game-winning three-point point buzzer-beater during a Suffolk League V boys basketball game against Amityville on Tuesday at Wyandanch The play broke down and Wyandanch was now scrambling on its home court to get off one last shot with time running out and Amityville clinging to a two-point edge But Wyandanch had something going for it out there amid the chaos so the ball is going to be in my hand,” Jerimiah Webb said The basketball did indeed wind up with the 5-11 senior point guard on the right side He saw the clock and flung the ball toward the basket so he had to adjust,” Wyandanch coach Barry Baker Jr Webb’s buzzer-beating three gave Wyandanch a 57-56 win Tuesday in a Suffolk League V boys basketball thriller that’s that clutchest shot we’ve had all season Clutch scored nine of his game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter in his second season with Wyandanch after moving on from Brentwood had scored his 1,000th varsity point Saturday vs He’s averaging 22 points for a first-place team outstanding job,” Amityville coach Jack Agostino said He’s done an amazing job getting them to play together Webb thinks this group can win a county championship in Class AA after reaching the semis in A last season I don’t think no other team is together like us.” who said he plans on going the junior college route next season Webb fed Tyrie Pinnock for a layup — Wyandanch by one Amityville’s standout junior guard headed down the lane and turned the trip into a three-point play with 31.2 seconds remaining giving him 16 and Amityville the two-point lead “Jerimiah Webb is one of the best players on Long Island,” Agostino said “This is a great motivational booster to be in games like this,” Baker said We’re going to carry this throughout the season.” Residents of a new Amityville apartment complex have had to endure ear-piercing fire alarms randomly going off for more than a year — at times for as long as two hours — prompting village officials to enforce nuisance violations Some tenants, who pay up to $3,800 per month in rent, say they won't renew their leases with AvalonBay Communities Inc., which operates the complex that was  completed in  May on Broadway Village officials worry that with so many complaints of false alarms residents have become immune to them and won't evacuate during a real emergency The Amityville fire and police departments have responded to 21 false alarms since August 2023 Avalon Amityville tenants said their lives have been upended by the shrill alarms and on at least one occasion sounded until almost 2 a.m The high-pitched alerts last anywhere from two minutes to two hours and have disrupted everything from tenants’ sleep to family barbecues while causing stress to children and pets it sounds like a rock concert," said Scott Cackett who moved into a one-bedroom loft in October Village officials said they've grown impatient with the company and issued two summons to AvalonBay for violating state law on maintaining equipment and systems and for violating village law for having a system that "emits a false call or alarm." The maximum fine for each charge is $250 The company is due in village court on Sept AvalonBay apologized for the errant alarms AvalonBay vice president Scott Fishbone said the company has "worked closely and consistently with the Town and our 3rd party vendors to address false fire alarms and ensure building safety The fire alarm system "continues to function as designed to protect our residents and associates ..." the statement continued He said company officials "understand and apologize for the inconvenience the testing and troubleshooting has caused as we worked to stop the false alarms." Company officials said the cause of the false alarms was "investigated and determined to be due largely to construction-related issues which can occur during the construction process." The company did not respond to multiple Newsday questions including what it will take to stop the false alarms from ringing so frequently Some renters moved into their apartments last fall while construction on other units was still underway Rent for a one-year lease on a one-bedroom apartment ranges from $2,607 to $3,880 per month The complex has 317 apartments and 21 townhomes Breitweg said he is concerned the alarm issue has caused "complacency."  "They’re not evacuating when the alarms are going off," Breitweg said Residents have become "lackadaisical" over the building's alarms "It’s become like the boy who cried wolf," he said but now it’s to the point where peoples’ safety is an issue." the company touts that residents can "live your life effortlessly," highlighting amenities such as a "state-of-the-art" fitness center and a heated pool This is living up," Avalon's website says lives in a two-bedroom apartment with a loft along with her two young children but then it became more of a safety issue for my children," she said "because now we’re living in this building where literally nobody evacuates." Her children missed school after one alarm went off in February at 10:44 p.m we’re just forced to deal with it," she said You just hope there’s someone who can turn them off quickly." said she had to miss work the next day and that her ears were ringing long afterward She said she will not renew her lease in the fall "There are times when I will still feel like I’m hearing an alarm," she said The piercing sound has distressed her two cats "My pets are traumatized," she said "Every time the alarms go off they’re shaking had to carry her 11-year-old French bulldog up and down three floors whenever an alarm sounded who pays $3,600 per month for her one-bedroom unit "You see this beautiful complex with these amenities and it’s supposed to be luxury living and then this is what you’re dealing with," she said But since moving to her studio apartment in April she has found her sleep repeatedly interrupted and worries it could impact her work AvalonBay sends emails after the false alarms ring with explanations for the noise the company wrote: "Our fire alarms were activated this morning due to our cleaning service .. which caused dust to set off the fire alarms."  Other emails cited "construction activity" and "water flow activation." AvalonBay also has sent emails warning that the alarms could go off at any time as part of system testing or repairs the emails gave a window of up to seven hours Fishbone's statement addressed the frequent testing "We have kept community members updated on how we are actively addressing the issue providing 24- to 48-hours’ notice before any testing or inspection," he said "We also have contacted residents whenever the alarm activated without prior notification to provide an explanation." Village officials said they understand residents’ aggravation village fire and police personnel responded to five false alarms at the complex at least a dozen more false alarms have occurred beyond the 21 the village has logged The complex on the former Brunswick Hospital campus had been eyed as key to revitalizing downtown Amityville When construction on the complex started in 2021 Siry said the development would be a "great shot in the arm for Amityville" and bring new life to the village Siry said now he’s "absolutely worried" about what AvalonBay’s alarm troubles mean for fire safety as well as downtown revitalization efforts "It would behoove them to get this fixed because they want to have a successful place," Siry said "In the end it would benefit everybody." For the first entry in what will be the final year of this editorial series, The Amityville IP is going seasonal with the Thanksgiving themed Amityville Turkey Day The new film is once again co-directed by Will Collazo Jr both of whom co-write the screenplay with David Rodriguez the diegetic references to the lack of a script and ad-libbed dialogue could easily be seen as a meta reference to the film itself both Amityville Turkey Day‘s narrative and characters are so poorly sketched that for most of its runtime the majority of what happens and why verges on incomprehensible picks up some time after the events of Thanksgiving who appears in video and to whom the film is dedicated) invited couples to his remote property in order to impregnate the women on Thanksgiving in a pact with the devil Amityville Turkey Day retcons the events of the first film to suggest that one victim conceived and birthed a child…or rather a turkey named Frank Jr (voiced by Steven Kiseleski) The vulgar bird aims to carry out his father’s legacy with the help of human assistant Bram (Dino Castelli devoid of personality) who lures an independent film crew making (what else?) a low budget film called The Amityville Cannibal Thanksgiving in the hopes of killing and/or impregnating a woman before midnight on Thanksgiving Amityville Turkey Day is cooked almost from the jump due to poor acting and a ridiculously inept script that overcomplicates every situation for no discernible reason All of the human characters – from actor Enrique (David Perry albeit in a new role) to producer Ivy (Erica Dyer screaming Every.Single.Line) to the interchangeable parade of generic white guys who exist to be murdered – are awful the director rocking a pornstache who at one point brings out a sandwich bag so filled with coke it must be worth more than the budget of the terrible movie they’re making Only Ruggiere treats the film like a farce and his performance is so charmingly dumb that it’s a shame when Rocco passes out mid-way through the film all that’s left are a collection of duds It’s a shame because whenever the film cedes the screen to its poultry antagonist Amityville Turkey Day completely comes alive which includes endless sexual and bird-related puns and the crude visual look of the turkey puppet itself Frank Jr brings a burst of energy and silliness to the film that is sorely lacking in every other aspect Perhaps the holiday-themed mascot works so well because every other aspect of the production is insufferable Amityville Turkey Day suddenly becomes significantly more watchable Next time: we’re less than five titles from the end (maybe Finally?) with Evan Jacobs’ Amityville Backpack (2024) After a brief detour to cover off Geno McGahee’s Amityville: The Final Chapter aka Sickle we’re back in 2023 with writer/director Bobby Canipe Jr’s Amityville Ripper you’d be forgiven for misconstruing this as a tired attempt to force a slasher narrative in an Amityville film which would be (partially) accurate if it weren’t for the film’s extremely meta approach Canipe Jr’s film plays like a somewhat poorly executed indie film the premise is paper thin and it feels like subplots are going nowhere two characters break the fourth wall to confirm the name of the film they’re in with the film crew Here the characters know about the bad reputation of the “series,” but they also complain about the quality of the film itself and the fact that no one knows what happens because the script was delivered late In some ways it’s a clever way of addressing the film’s obvious shortcomings occasional “bad” acting and wafer-thin characters the repeated nods to the film as a product eventually undermines the film itself especially when Canipe Jr leans on the joke so much in the last two acts that it threatens to become stale The result is a halfway successful film that is equal parts amusing The basic narrative is this: Marianne (Kelsey Ann Baker) has New Years plans with best friend Annie (Angel Nichole Bradford) They plan to perform a séance with a knife recovered from an estate sale of the Amityville house that purportedly belonged to Jack the Ripper The problem is that Marianne’s (step) brother Nicols (Hunter Redfern) wants to have a disruptive party because their parents are out of town along with wheelchair-bound Chapman (Ryan Martel) and cheerleader Liz (Anna Clary) are then hunted by Jack (Josh Allman) who slashes his way through a party of unassuming extras The violence is infrequent and often offscreen though Canipe Jr wisely opts for practical blood over CGI which looks much better when we see Jack’s victims And even though by the last act the screenplay is relying too much on self-referential dialogue One particularly amusing interaction occurs when the survivors refuse to say inane dialogue the point that the director steps in to demand they stop going off script The problem is that because Amityville Ripper openly mocks every aspect of itself such as when Liz observes that Nicols and Annie (now dead) never got together and Canipe Jr acknowledges from offscreen that he forgot when the film dedicates a significant amount of screen time to subplots or character beats that have little bearing on the film other than to pad the 80 minute runtime One grating example is the multiple references to queerness including Chapman and Nicols’ belief that Marianne and Annie are “lezzing” out before the séance as well as the suggestion that Chapman is queer and has feelings for Nicols but the film hand waves it away with the suggestion that the characters are simply inconsistent and underwritten The film also opens with a substantial montage of news reports about an increase in alien and UFO sightings This ties into the finale when the day is randomly saved by a passing spaceship which makes for a mildly amusing final joke who appears past the half-way point of the film) is confused It’s an extra element that distracts from the film’s villain and central premise Amityville Ripper is an occasionally fun and clever meta-riff on both the “franchise” and At several points the film becomes little more than a parody of itself which detracts rather than adds to its jokey commentary there’s a novelty in the brazenness of the humor and trying something new 50 plus films in Next time: the “franchise” finally moves into 2024 with the return of vets Shawn C Phillips and Julie Anne Prescott and the introduction of <gasp> Eric Roberts? Twice a month Joe Lipsett will dissect a new Amityville Horror film to explore how the “franchise” has evolved in increasingly ludicrous directions. This is “The Amityville IP. Asked to name an Amityville remake, the natural response is the “all abs, all the time” Ryan Reynolds 2005 remake What folks may not know is that there is *technically* another option: director Éric Tessier’s Tubi original The Amityville Curse (2023) which is a Canadian remake of another Canadian Amityville film of the same name from 1990 You can revisit my editorial on the OG film from <gulp> two years ago but the premise of both films is nearly identical Each follows a group of College students who purchase a house for dirt cheap under the pretense of fixing it up I wasn’t super enthusiastic about Tom Berry’s 1990 cash grab sequel if only because it was one of the first films to jettison the basic premise of the other films and only casually mention “Amityville” (ah Tessier’s film uses the same jumping off point: following the suicide of the current homeowner six College friends swoop in to purchase the house and flip it into three separate condos The renovations are being coordinated by contractor Abigail (Tommie-Amber Price) who has a conspiratorial friendship with lawyer Frank (Dillon Casey) and a romantic past with teacher Marv (Michael Xavier) The latter pair continue to flirt throughout the film despite the fact that Marv is now dating Debbie (Vanessa Smythe) the most high strung and jealous member of the friend group Rounding out the group are lesbian couple Billie (Mercedes Morris) and Lucy (Jenny Raven) who own a local restaurant but are feeling the pressure of spreading themselves too thin financially in the aftermath of the pandemic the group barely moves in before the group begins hearing voices and the lights flicker with poltergeist activity Considering the house’s DeFeo-inspired family shooting history as well as the deaths of several former owners pit the housemates against each other: Marv is adamant that nothing is happening while Abigail and Billie butt heads over a charm that could protect them so the idea that the remaining five are too cash-strapped to risk selling at a loss initially makes sense the more hoops the narrative is required to jump through to justify anyone staying in the house including Reverend Marion (Ennis Esmer) and Marv’s workplace nemesis Heaton can’t convincingly convey why anyone would set foot in the haunted house but their introductions tend to result in pacing hiccups as the story gently resets to accommodate exposition and backstories The Amityville Curse has energy challenges in part because it sometimes plays like a collection of likeminded narratives stitched together at times it feels much longer than its runtime it’s a nice change of pace to see an Amityville movie with a decent budget The Amityville Curse is on par aesthetically with other Tubi originals which often involves malicious whispers that play on characters’ worst fears and insecurities Overall the film benefits from looking more well-made and well-put together than many of the films in the back half of the “franchise.” At this point in the editorial run Next time: we’re back in low budget, silly territory with the first of two back-to-back 2023 titles from Will Colazzo Jr starting with Amityville Shark House (2023) ‘The Forsaken’ – Biting Into the Forgotten Vampire Movie 24 Years Later