While horror fans await the release of the latest installment in the Amityville Horror franchise, a new film, 1974, is headed into production that will depict the real-life murders that kicked off a series of supposed supernatural events. Deadline reports that Casey La Scala will be writing and directing the film for Broad Green Pictures.
In the ’70s, Ronald DeFeo was convicted of killing his mother, father, two brothers, and two sisters in the house on Ocean Avenue in Long Island, NY. The Lutz family moved into the house following these horrifying events, having a hard time passing up such a spacious house for the price.
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Shortly after moving in, the family began to report a series of supernatural occurrences. On the more mundane side of reports, the family reported often waking up at 3:15 AM (the time at which DeFeo murdered his family), massive amounts of flies swarmed the house, cold spots, strange smells, and the discovery of a hidden room that did not appear on the blueprints that made their dog anxious.
On the more extreme end of experiences, the five-year-old Missy Lutz claimed to have befriended a demonic pig monster, mother Kathy Lutz claimed to see demons in the fireplace, and Kathy also felt “embraced” by an unseen love while she was asleep.
UP NEXT: Real-Life ‘Amityville Horror’ House Finds A New Owner
The story of the DeFeo murders not only ties into the Amityville Horror series of films, but we also see Ed and Lorraine Warren investigating the claims in The Conjuring 2. The documentary My Amityville Horror follows Daniel Lutz as he looks back on the time his family lived in the house, claiming that there were even more intense occurrences than seen in any movie.
In the early ’00s, the house was remodeled to remove iconic windows that were highly recognizable and its address was changed in hopes of discouraging sightseers.
Earlier this year, the house sold for $605,000, but it’s unclear if the spirits will have to pay rent to the new owners.
MORE NEWS: ‘Amityville: The Awakening’ Officially Pulled From Release
The next chapter in the Amityville Horror series, Amityville: The Awakening, has been stuck in limbo for over a year.
The film, which stars Bella Thorne and Jennifer Jason Leigh, was initially announced to be released last April, with Dimension then quickly pulling it from release. The updated release of the film was slated for this past June, but was once again pulled from release merely weeks before its release date.
