The Amityville Horror

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The book presents itself as a “true story,” a trend that gained popularity after works like Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood. How did this framing as a factual account affect your reading experience? Did you find yourself approaching it more as a documentary or as a traditional horror novel?

2. What was the single most frightening or unsettling scene for you, and what made it so effective?

3. Did you find the ending, in which the presence follows the family from the house, satisfying or frustrating?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The Lutz family was drawn to 112 Ocean Avenue because it was their “dream home,” a place of “High Hopes.” Thinking about what makes a house feel like a home to you, what aspects of their initial dream were most relatable? Have you ever developed an instant connection to a particular place?

2. George’s character undergoes a dramatic shift, becoming irritable, withdrawn, and neglectful of his work and family. Have you ever experienced how a stressful environment or a major life change can alter someone’s personality?

3. A major theme is the family’s growing isolation as they realize established institutions can’t help them. Think about a time you felt your concerns were not being taken seriously by an authority figure. How did that experience compare to the Lutzes’ struggle for validation?

4. The Amityville Horror features characters who deal with the events at 112 Ocean Avenue in very different ways. Where do you draw the line between skepticism and belief when encountering events that defy easy explanation?

5. At what point in the story, if any, would you have abandoned the house? Was there a specific event that would have been your final straw? Why that particular moment over others?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. How does the novel tap into the 1970s occult revival, a cultural moment heavily influenced by films like The Exorcist?

2. How does knowing about the real-life “Amityville Hoax” debate change the way you interpret the story? Can you think of other recent examples of stories that have been presented as true and then later revealed to be fictional?

3. What does the portrayal of the Catholic Church’s bureaucratic and hesitant response suggest about societal attitudes toward traditional institutions during the 1970s? Does this theme of institutional failure in horror stories feel just as relevant today?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Anson presents the narrative with specific dates and a journalistic, third-person perspective. How does this documentary style affect the reading experience differently than a more traditional first-person horror narrative might?

2. What role does Father Mancuso’s storyline, which takes place largely outside the house, play in the overall narrative?

3. How does the house at 112 Ocean Avenue function as more than just a setting in the novel? Consider its role in both the plot and thematic developments.

4. The novel features a number of recurring motifs, like the flies or the pervasive cold, that are central to its atmosphere. Which did you find most effective in building a sense of dread as the story unfolded? What symbolic meaning did you attach to these motifs while you were reading?

5. Discuss the narrative’s use of Ronald DeFeo Jr., who plays an important role in the text despite his death before the text begins. How does Anson use DeFeo to emphasize what is happening to George and the Lutzes?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you’re a real estate agent tasked with selling the house at 112 Ocean Avenue today. How would you write the property listing to be both honest and appealing to a potential buyer?

2. If you were adapting The Amityville Horror into a film for a modern audience, what aspects of the story would you choose to focus on? Would you focus more on the psychological breakdown of the family or the supernatural phenomena?