(Cert 15, 89mins): Starring Ryan Reynolds, Melissa George, Jesse James, Jimmy Bennett, Chloe Grace Moretz, Philip Baker Hall, Rachel Nichols, Annabel Armour. Directed by Andrew Douglas.

House-hunters beware, if the stress and strain of finding a property and securing a mortgage doesn't kill you, the vengeful spirit of the previous owner just might.

Incredible as it sounds, the film is based on a chilling true story.

In November 1974, police were called to a large Dutch-colonial house in the community of Amityville. Officers discovered a nightmarish scene of carnage and devastation.

Ronald Defeo Jr had slaughtered his entire family in their beds, claiming ghostly voices within the house drove him to commit the grisly, unspeakable murders.

One year later, George Lutz (Reynolds) and his wife Kathy (George) view the house and fall in love with it despite hearing the terrible history.

"Houses don't kill people - people kill people," says George. So they move into the property with their three children Billy (James), Michael (Bennett) and Chelsea (Moretz). But soon the they experience bizarre and inexplicable events.

George hears haunting voices from the evil presence which still lurks within the building, saying: "Catch 'em, kill 'em."

Kathy struggles to hold her family together while her husband retreats to the basement and his visions.

The Amityville Horror is a competent remake of the 1979 cult classic starring James Brolin, Margot Kidder and Rod Steiger.

This new version, from the producers of the recently-updated Texas Chainsaw Massacre, remains faithful to the original film - virtually shot-for-shot in some scenes.

However, with advances in special effects, it's perhaps inevitable director Andrew Douglas and screenwriter Scott Kosar should show the ghosts of the murdered Defeo family, still trapped in the living hell of the house.

The Amityville Horror is an entertaining diversion but the true story is far more unsettling than anything conjured up here.