Amityville Horror or Hoax

When you arrive at the official website of the Amityville Horror, you see the words “based on a true story.”  Now the question is, are they lying?

“The Amityville Horror is a best-selling book by the author Jay Anson which was published in September 1977. The book has also formed the basis of a series of films made between 1979 and 2005. The story is allegedly based on real life events, but has caused controversy over the reliability of many of its claims.” Wikipedia 

The story goes like this:  December 1975, The Lutz family moves in to a bargain priced house.  The house stands at 112 Ocean Avenue, in Amityville.  Just over a year before the Lutzes moved in, Ronald DeFeo, Jr. shot and killed six members of his family in that same house.  The Lutzes lived in the house for 28 short days in which they claimed they were terrorized by paranormal phenomena.

The Lutzes filed many lawsuits against writers, clairvoyants whom examined the house etc.  Many of the claims we dropped for lack of evidence.  Judge Jack B. Weinstein of the Brooklyn U.S. District Court, dismissed the Lutz family’s claims ruling: “Based on what I have heard, it appease to me that to a large extent the book is a work of fiction, relying in a large part upon suggestions of Mr. Weber.”

           

 

 

In the September 17, 1979 issue of People, William Weber wrote: “I know this book is a hoax.  We created this horror story over many bottles of wine.  Judge Weinstein also said regarding the affair: “There is a very serious ethical question when lawyers become literary agents.”

In August 2004, Kathy Lutz died of emphysema, and in May 2006, George dies of heart disease.  They had divorced in the ‘80s and remained friends. George Lutz claimed that the events in the book were “mostly true,” and denied dishonesty on his part.  He later commented during the History Channel 2000 interview: “I have never said it was a hoax, and I never will, because it is not a hoax.  That doesn’t mean that everything that was ever said about it was true, but it certainly not a hoax.  I wish it was.  It’s not”

The debate continues and I believe we will never have any real closure concerning the Amityville story, especially now because those who really did know the truth have crossed over to the side.

Either way, for me, I choose to cling to the decision that I believe there is truth in some of it, and being the way I am; that comes as a comfort.

 

 

 

 

 

Blair Witch Lying Bitch

This is a popular hoax.  The trailer for the movie was very convincing with it’s “In October of 1994, three student filmmakers, disappeared in the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland, while shooting a documentary.  A year later their footage was found.”

The movie was filmed with shaky “amateur” cameras and followed the students on a horrific journey through cold woods, wet skies, and across streams.  The movie captured the creepy piles of rocks and sticks that were supposedly left by the Blair Witch.  Of course there is the memorable scene of Heather Donahue crying and freaking with the large amounts of snot dripping from her nose.

“The film tells the story of three student filmmakers who get lost in the woods while filming the Blair Witch documentary.  After being terrorized by an unseen presence for several days, they mysteriously disappear, one by one.  Neither the students, nor their bodies are ever found, although their video and sound equipment (along with most of the footage they shot) is eventually recovered.” (Wikipedia)

The film was released in July 1999.  You can find the official website here.  The website contains “actual evidence,” photos, and the stories surrounding the Blair Witch.

Starting with the huge campaign, brought to us largely via Internet, the marketing genius’ largely suggested that the film was and actual event.  Then hoax went on to make $248 million worldwide.  (The most successful independent film until October 2002).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The posters and ads for the movie were designed specifically to reinforce the authenticity of the “documentary.”

The Sci-fi Channel, aired a fake documentary called “Curse of the Blair Witch,” that claimed to investigate the legend, just before the movie’s release.  Complete with interviews from “fellow students,” the deceit reached amazing levels. 

Complete with “missing” posters at film festivals, they pulled out all the stops to take our money.

Writers and marketers fabricated everything surrounding this film.  We were shocked to see the actors receive awards on TV.  Thankfully the sequel pretty much flopped in the eyes of viewers, and after the release of the hoax, the original movie was selling at a whopping $2.99 (CAN) at Blockbuster Video.  Everyone the world over felt really ripped off, and the movie spawned an amazing number of skeptics, who will never believe in anything supernatural again.  I don’t know how you feel, but I think this was a shame, and an unforgivable lie.