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Topic: Amityville horror-17minutes.

Andrew Wilson
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 784
From: dundonald,belfast,co.antrim,northern ireland.
Registered: Jan 2006

posted July 11, 2006 02:24 PM

one of the classic horror themes is the old dark house
where ghosts and goulies go bump in the night.
well back in 1979;american international returned to that domaim
by filming jay anson's cracking best seller-the amityville horror.
i wish i could say that they did a excellent job of filming the novel,but i can't.
it was in my view a total disater;but the movie was a big
hit and super8 fans could add this two reeler to their horror
collection even now.
An American colonial house is shrouted in darkness as shots
ring out and newsreel style captions report that a whole
family has been massacred here.
that was in nov.74;we moved on a year as an attractive couple,
margot kidder and james brolin,are shown around the house by the estate agent who comments:"its a lovely house,i'm sure youll be happy here..."
they move in with their young family and,while all are out
exploring the near by lake,the house is visted by the local
priest,father delaney(ROD STEIGER).he knocks on the door;
getting no reply,he enters and decides to bless the house
anyway.he enters a bedroom,and gradually becomes aware of
a large number of flies in the room.-suddenly,the door and
window slam shut as flies crawl over his face.
Very distressed,he desperately tries to open the window
catch,but without success-until of its on accord,the door slowly
opens and a voice screams:"GET OUT!".
Fleeing for his life the priest is to try again and again to
warn the family,but to no avail.
the telephone burns in his hand and his colleague's car careers
out of control,as he tries to retun to that strange house.
totally unaware of those spooky going on the family carries on
happily-until the window slams shut on the kiddies fingers with
a sickening crunch and the front door is ripped off its hinges.
A sensitive friend comments that "energy cannot be destroyed,it
can only change its form..."
A caption annouces:"THE LASY NIGHT"as blood oozes from the walls
and slurps down the stairs!.
Good colour,definition and sound will thrill all horror fans.
Seek one out.
This two reeler is well edited.its a lot better than the full
feature,because all the padding has been removed.
highly recommend.
I didnt like the feature;but i enjoyed this digest.

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Paul Spinks
Master Film Handler

Posts: 453
From: Barking, Essex, UK
Registered: Mar 2006

posted July 11, 2006 02:43 PM

Hi Andrew,
thanks for this excellent synopsis of this great 400 footer. I agree that it is so much better in this digest form than full length, which is a bit tedious. Derann's "Kingdom of the Spiders" is another example of an editor improving a slow film for Super 8. By removing the padding some films are really enhanced and become very exciting movies.
Best wishes,
Paul.

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Andrew Wilson
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 784
From: dundonald,belfast,co.antrim,northern ireland.
Registered: Jan 2006

posted July 11, 2006 04:23 PM

you're welcome paul.its funny how times change.
back in the 70s when super8mm was king we british
prefered digests to features.now its the other way around.
but derann and classic still release digests from features,
ie pearl harbour,goldeneye,matrix and lond of the rings.andy.

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Jan Bister
Darth 8mm

Posts: 2629
From: Ohio, USA
Registered: Jan 2005

posted July 11, 2006 06:11 PM

The thing about these modern "digests," though, is that they're more like extracts. Not that there's anything wrong with that, just pointing out the difference. Hooray to both [Smile]

--------------------
Call me Phoenix. *dusts off the ashes*

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Andrew Wilson
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 784
From: dundonald,belfast,co.antrim,northern ireland.
Registered: Jan 2006

posted July 12, 2006 01:11 AM

point well made jan.youre right off course.i still prefer
extracts/digests to features.andy.

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Mark Norton
Master Film Handler

Posts: 330
From: Hampton Hill, Middlesex, U.K.
Registered: Feb 2004

posted July 12, 2006 05:48 AM

Yes and a lot more affordable too! Shame some of these old digests that all copies have faded can't be re released with up to date quality.
I allways thought that these well edited digests were one of the strengths of that a super 8 show has over video projection. I've even thought of editing one of my full length features to make it more repeatable.

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Kevin Faulkner
Film God

Posts: 4071
From: Essex UK
Registered: Jun 2003

posted July 12, 2006 05:51 AM

I think the reason for these extracts instead of the digests is that the borrowed masters dont have to be chopped about. Also by not having to edit the films and the sound as well helps to keep the costs down.

I have to say that I prefer the extracts to the digests [Smile]

Some of the digests done during the 70's and 80's were just so badly done that they were laughable [Big Grin]

Some however were done really well and this is obviously one of those. [Smile]

Kev.

--------------------
GS1200 Xenon with Elmo 1.0...great combo along with a 16-CL Xenon for that super bright white light.

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