Never trust a real estate agent who says a potential property has a “vibrant history.” Such is the case in “The Amityville Horror,” an adaptation of the best-selling horror novel from the ’70s. Ryan Reynolds and Melissa George headline as the Lutz family, who move into a spacious Dutch Colonial. But once the walls begin to bleed and their youngest daughter’s “imaginary” friend starts making appearances, they realize why the place was listed at such a bargain price.

Also opening is “Gunner Palace,” a ground level documentary that follows the day-to-day existence of the men and women of a field artillery unit in Iraq. The title comes from the fact they set up barracks in a former pleasure palace owned by Saddam Hussein’s son Uday.

And finally Woody Allen tries to conjure the magic of his early 1980s work with “Melinda and Melinda,” which follows how a specific event can be used as the basis for both comedy and tragedy. Radha Mitchell stars as Melinda in alternate tales spun by two writers during dinner.

I’m Jon Niccum with Screen Scene.