Last Podcast On The Left: "Last Update on the Left - Episode 10 - Amityville Reloaded"

Release Date: January 2, 2026
Hosts: Marcus Parks, Ed Larson, Travis McElroy

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode of the "Last Update on the Left" revisits and expands upon the infamous Amityville case, blending true crime and paranormal mythology. The hosts dissect the story's evolution—from the real and brutal DeFeo family murders to the media phenomenon of the Amityville haunting and the Lutz family's claims. They reflect on their own changing perspectives, how myth overtakes truth, and cultural impacts, all spiced with comedic banter and personal anecdotes.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Re-examining Amityville: From Series Coda to Expansion

• Marcus Parks positions this episode as a blend of ‘update’ and ‘expansion’—taking a deeper, evolved look at the Amityville story beyond their original series.
  • [04:13] “I wouldn’t necessarily say this is an update... another way to refer to this show... is last expansion on the left.”
• Comparative framework with other Last Podcast Network shows and how certain details are often left out initially but are worth revisiting.

2. Origins of the Myth: The DeFeo Murders

• The hosts recount the facts of the 1974 murders committed by Ronald “Butch” DeFeo Jr.—who killed his entire family in their beds at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville.
• The setting of Amityville itself is discussed as a working-class, now affluent, Long Island neighborhood, dispelling earlier beliefs that it was always affluent.
  • [10:59] Ed: “We said the Amityville house was in an affluent neighborhood... and now we’re not as broke...”

The Crime Scene Breakdown

• Details of how the bodies were found, the method of killing, and the disturbing element: no one in the house appeared to resist or escape being shot in their sleep.
• The hosts debate plausible explanations—paranormal, psychological, and practical—for how six people could be shot in their beds without anyone waking up or escaping.
  • [17:41 Travis]: “How do you execute six people and no one gets out of bed?”
  • [17:52 Marcus]: “That’s been the question behind the Ronnie DeFeo murders for, you know, going on almost 50 years now.”

Explanations Considered

• Psychological states during traumatic events, the unfamiliarity of gunshots, and familial dynamics.
• The notorious “demon” explanation as part of later defenses.

3. Myth-Making: From True Crime to Paranormal Blockbuster

• The Lutz Family moves in after the murders—beginning the paranormal claims soon after arrival.
• Initially, the hosts themselves leaned toward belief in the haunting, only to later realize the legend was largely constructed for profit and legal strategy.
  • [08:08 Marcus]: “I remember... looking into this story and being like, flabbergasted that the whole thing was kind of a hoax on the part of the Lutzes. Or rather... blown out so much.”

Linking to Broader Pop Culture

• Influence of "The Exorcist" (1973) on the Amityville narrative and America's appetite for demonic or haunted house stories in the 1970s.
  • [35:21 Ed]: “I actually blame a lot of paranormal stories from this time period on the goddamn Exorcist...”

4. Expose the Hoax: Collaborations and Contradictions

• Lutzes’ collaboration with Ronald DeFeo’s defense attorney, William Weber, to merge haunting claims with legal defense, strengthening an insanity plea and boosting book/movie deals.
  • [34:06 Marcus]: “They were in contact with Butch DeFeo’s defense attorney... he wanted to combine their stories to create an insanity plea.”

The Making and Selling of a Modern Haunting

• The Lutzes quickly sought media and legal partnerships after leaving the house, recording tapes and working toward a marketable story.
• Later, former family members, especially Christopher Lutz (under “Christopher Quarantino”), publicly contested key details, asserting their memories drastically differed from the book and films.

5. Memory, Trauma, and Narrative Ownership

• Discussion of memory reliability, especially in children (Christopher was only 7), and how growing up within a myth shapes identity and personal recollection.
  • [45:07 Ed]: “It’s not about what he directly remembers... but then it’s written in a book... turned to nine movies... your childhood home is the picture of haunted houses... you’ve made that memory real.”
• Christopher’s criticisms: The haunting story was exaggerated and altered for mass appeal; real traumatic events (for example, the dog nearly choking itself out of fear) were omitted or simplified.

6. Dissecting Motivation and the Lutz Legacy

• George Lutz’s Occult Interests:

  • George is described as more an occult “dabbler” than devout Christian, with a mix of spiritual practices that may have influenced the story’s shape.
  • Family dynamics included abuse, and the suggestion that George’s own behavior may have invited further strangeness—per Christopher, “George Lutz invited a demonic entity into the house.” [51:21 Marcus]

• The Drive for Profit:

  • The Lutzes’ financial distress and quick pivot to commercialization of their experiences.
  • Reminder that none of the later owners ever reported paranormal happenings, and neighbors dispute the wilder claims.
    • [34:41 Travis]: “No one else has felt paranormal in the house since.”
    • [34:46 Marcus]: “No, no, no. Everyone who’s ever lived there... refuted a lot of George Lutz’s claims... None of that shit happened.”

• Litigation and Tragedy:

  • George Lutz’s later years dominated by court feuds—even suing his stepson over the “Amityville Horror” brand.
  • He died in 2006, coincidentally on the day a lawsuit was settled.
    • [56:36 Marcus]: “And on the day that it was settled in 2007, George Lutz died.”
    • [56:44 Marcus]: “You spend your life in litigation and then you become a ghost. Wow.”

7. The Ongoing Spectacle: Amityville in Pop Culture

• The Amityville series has spawned at least ten films (originally more than the hosts realized), remakes, and endless direct-to-video spinoffs—ranging from "Amityville 3D" to "Amityville Dollhouse."

  • [57:25 Ed]: “Yeah, dude. And they’ve all got... Amityville 3D I liked.”
  • Full litany of titles and even the ongoing use of the Amityville name in unrelated horror properties.

• Local reaction: The town of Amityville largely dislikes the association, as it draws true crime/horror tourists and morbid curiosity.

  • [59:10 Marcus]: “They do not [love it]... No one does. Their name being a byword for haunted house.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Marcus Parks [08:08]:
  “The myth often persists so much longer than the truth... one myth turns into another, and before you know it, everyone thinks Ed Gein’s a cannibal when he’s not.”
• Travis McElroy [17:41]:
  “How do you execute six people and no one gets out of bed?”
• Marcus Parks [34:41]:
  “No, no, no. Everyone who’s ever lived there... refuted a lot of George Lutz’s claims... None of that shit happened.”
• Ed Larson [35:21]:
  “I actually blame a lot of paranormal stories from this time period on the goddamn Exorcist.”
• Marcus Parks [45:07]:
  “Yes, it’s not about what he directly remembers, but also... the narrative not just is created by your father... but then it’s written in a book, blown out into a movie... you’ve made that memory real.”
• Marcus Parks [56:44]:
  “You spend your life in litigation and then you become a ghost. Wow.”

Lighter/Comedic Moments

• Extended riffing on New York and Long Island family habits (plastic covers on furniture, inheritance jokes).
• Personal childhood tales about teachers, fighting, and birthday parties—showcasing classic Last Podcast chemistry and tangents.
• Recitation of the many unintentionally hilarious Amityville sequel titles, with mockery and affection.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 04:13 – Framing the episode: "Last Expansion on the Left"
• 08:08 – Initial discoveries about the Amityville “hoax”
• 10:14–12:42 – Anatomy of the DeFeo murders; crime scene details
• 17:41–20:04 – How did the killings occur without any resistance?
• 23:42–24:23 – DeFeo’s background, shifting explanations, and mafia connections
• 34:06 – Lutzes collaborate with DeFeo’s attorney for legal/financial gain
• 34:41 – Refutation of paranormal claims by subsequent owners
• 35:21 – The Exorcist’s influence on paranormal storytelling
• 45:07–47:15 – The fallibility of memory, especially for Christopher Lutz
• 51:21 – Christopher Lutz's version: George Lutz as occult dabbler/invoker
• 56:36–56:44 – George Lutz’s litigious legacy and death: “You become a ghost.”

Flow & Tone

• The episode is conversational, comedic, and frequently irreverent, sticking to the show’s signature blend of gallows humor and genuine research.
• The hosts balance myth-busting with empathy for the real traumas at the story’s center.
• Throughout, personal experiences and 'off-topic' bits add color and context, while the core focus stays on the untangling of fact, fiction, and cultural impact.

Conclusion / Takeaway

"Amityville Reloaded" is a critical retrospective on an American true-crime legend, shining light on how myth overtakes reality in both popular media and personal memory. Through a mix of skepticism, empathy, and humor, the hosts reveal that the Amityville haunting was less a supernatural event and more a product of cultural moment, media sensationalism, and opportunistic myth-making. Yet—whether real, imagined, or somewhere in-between—it left an indelible mark on America’s horror consciousness.