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Twice a month Joe Lipsett will dissect a new Amityville Horror film to explore how the “franchise” has evolved in increasingly ludicrous directions. This is “The Amityville IP.”

There’s an uneasy tension in Amityville in the Hood (2021) between intentional parody and uncomfortable racism. How much of the film’s stereotypical depiction of Compton, which includes gangs, gun violence, drugs, and sex work, is making fun of the conventions of Hollywood films? Or is this just lazy screenwriting and uninspired scenarios?

Let’s give writer/director Dustin Ferguson the benefit of a doubt and go with the former. Of the three titles he’s made in the Amityville “franchise,” In the Hood is by far the most self-aware. There are even a few moments that play like genuine (read: intentional) comedy!

To be clear, there are still plenty of hiccups here. Like his other films in the “franchise,” Ferguson is...

"A new strain of evil." Get it, get it? Wild Eye Releasing has debuted an official trailer for Amityville in the Hood, another ridiculous B-movie creation from filmmaker Dustin Ferguson. He's kind of like Asylum, but not even that good. Another Amityville offering now that the rights are in public domain and anyone can use them to make any bad horror movie. But it might be the best?. An Eastside gang uses the Amityville property to grow marijuana when they are attacked by a rival gang and their drugs stolen. Soon, it's unleashed on the Westside streets of Compton, where anyone who smokes it suffers one Killer buzz. Oh lord. The film's cast includes Dustin Ferguson, Jennifer Nangle, John R. Walker, Thom Michael Mulligan, Allie Perez, Pat Kusnadi, Erik Anthony Russo, and Esau McKnight. A haunted marijuana strain? Okay fine, points for creativity. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Dustin...