What's that, by the side of the road? Is that a... vomiting nun, played by star of stage and screen Irene Dailey? And what's that, up in the sewing room? Is that a... priest covered in flies, played by Oscar-winner Rod Steiger? However you feel about it, there's no question that Stuart Rosenberg's O.G. THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (1979) is an iconic launch of a never-ending franchise, one that's produced more clunkers than most—but which seems to have legs like no other. With '70s icons Margot Kidder and James Brolin along for the ride, plus plenty of ferrofluid and a requisite microfiche scene, we don't need to be told twice to GET OUT. Joining us for the first of two episodes is our pal, YA horror author extraordinaire Gretchen McNeil.
Intro, Debate Society, To Sir With Love (spoiler-free): 00:00-26:42
Honor Roll and Detention (spoiler-heavy): 26:43-1:04:42
Superlatives (spoiler-heavier): 1:04:43-1:21:32
Director Stuart Rosenberg
Screenplay Sandor Stern, based on the book by Jay Anson
Featuring James Brolin, Irene Dailey, Murray Hamilton, K.C. Martel, Margot Kidder, Meeno Peluce, Natasha Ryan, Michael Sacks, Helen Shaver, Rod Steiger, Don Stroud, Amy Wright
Gretchen McNeil is the author of several young adult novels including Dig Two Graves, Possess, 3:59, Relic, Get Even, Get Dirty, and Ten, as well as the horror/comedy novels #murdertrending, #murderfunding, and #noescape. Her most recent novel is Four Letter Word, pitched as an homage to Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt. "Ten: Murder Island," the film adaptation of Ten, premiered on Lifetime, and Get Even and Get Dirty have been adapted as the series “Get Even” and “Rebel Cheer Squad: a Get Even series” for the BBC and Netflix.
Our theme music is by Edward Elgar, and, this week, by Duck Sauce. Music from The Amityville Horror (1979) by Lalo Schifrin.
For more information on this film, writing by your hosts (on our blog), and other assorted bric-a-brac, visit our website, scareupod.com. Please subscribe to this podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get yours. If you like what you hear, please leave us a 5-star rating. Join our Facebook group. Follow us on Instagram.