Demons, clocks, dolls, and now a werewolf. The poor town of Amityville, New York has seen it all. With the success of, “The Wolf Of Snow Hollow” and many other werewolf films now in production, Lionsgate sets out to ride the new wave of werewolf phenomenon with “The Amityville Moon.” Writer/Director Thomas J. Churchill helms the project with Elm Street alum Tuesday Knight leading an experienced cast. Does “The Amityville Moon” get horror hounds howling, or is this just another quickly forgotten film looking to cash in on the dark history of that famous town in suburban New York?
Two women, Alyssa and Karla, attempt to flee a catholic rehabilitation center located in Amityville. Only Alyssa makes it out alive and the horror she witnesses sends her on a frantic flee back to her hometown. The church turns to the police in attempt to bring her back quickly and mask the mark of the beast that haunts their institution. With an intense internal investigation of police brutality on his hands, Detective Kimball is put on the case to find Alyssa and bring her back to the church. After a suspicious meeting with the clergy, Kimball quickly locates Alyssa and is taken back and curious about the tale she spins. The duo return to the church in search for answers and end up in a horrifying hairy situation.
“The Amityville Moon” had a lot of potential to be a sleeper hit but falls short due to overthinking. Churchill comes with loads of experience and clearly attempted to make this film much better than it needed to be. After a good opening scene, the viewer will struggle to stay awake during the next forty minutes in order to be rewarded with a well done final twenty minutes. The performances are all professional though at times more stale than a communion wafer. Knight stands out with her portrayal of hard ass nun Sister Ruth and lead Alex Rinehart brings some passion and depth to an otherwise bland plot. Werewolf films are often judged by two major themes: a transformation scene and creature design. The F/X team behind this project should take a bow, with an above average transformation scene and very well-done werewolf creation. Much like the film, Churchill shines as times and is embarrassing at others. From creative kills to cheap blood on the camera shots, it is as if two different directors worked on the project. Pacing is the major issue that keeps “The Amityville Moon” from being anything more than bang average at best. A simpler werewolf run amok at a rehab center would have been a lot more fun and a lot less likely to encourage an afternoon nap. At the beginning of this review we ask, would this film be quickly forgotten? The answer is yes however, it is a film that the horror nation should view at least once, for the several nice kills and very good last act.
Scream Score: 6.8/10