The Sentinel - 1977
She's living in the gateway to hell.
Director(s)
Michael Winner
Writer(s)
Jeffrey Konvitz also novel
Michael Winner
Producer(s)
Jeffrey Konvitz producer
Michael Winner producer
Cast
Chris Sarandon - Michael Lerman
Cristina Raines - Alison Parker
Martin Balsam - Prof. Ruzinsky
John Carradine - Fr. Francis Matthew Halloran
José Ferrer - Priest of the Brotherhood
Ava Gardner - Miss Logan
Arthur Kennedy - Monsignor Franchino
Burgess Meredith - Charles Chazen
Sylvia Miles - Gerde Engstrom
Deborah Raffin - Jennifer
Eli Wallach - Det. Gatz
Christopher Walken - Det. Rizzo
Jerry Orbach - Michael Dayton
Beverly D'Angelo - Sandra
Hank Garrett - James Brenner
Robert Gerringer - Hart
Nana Visitor - Girl at end (as Nana Tucker)
Tom Berenger - Man at end
William Hickey - Perry
Gary Allen - Malcolm Stinnett
Tresa Hughes - Rebecca Stinnett
Kate Harrington - Anna Clark
Jane Hoffman - Lilian Clotkin
Elaine Shore - Emma Clotkin
Sam Gray - Dr. Aureton
Reid Shelton - Priest
Fred Stuthman - Mr. Parker
Lucie Lancaster - Mary Parker
Anthony Holland - Party host
Jeff Goldblum - Jack
Zane Lasky - Raymond
Mady Heflin - Alice Marshak (student)
Diane Stilwell - Brenner's secretary (as Diane Stillwell)
Ron McLarty - Real estate agent
Joe Hamer - Detective (uncredited)
Charles Kimbrough - Hospital doctor (uncredited)
Bob Melvin - Background scary person (uncredited)
Plot:
· A fashion model moves into a house inhabited (on the top floor) by a blind priest. She begins having strange physical problems, has trouble sleeping at night, and has some nasty flashbacks of her attempted suicide. She complains to the real estate agent of the noise caused by her strange neighbors, but finds out that the house is only occupied by the priest and herself, and ultimately discovers that she has been put in the house for a reason.
Review by Noel Bailey
The only horror flick in history with FOURTEEN name stars
"Campy" doesn't adequately describe THE SENTINEL, I'm not sure what does! If for no other reason, but to see actors of the caliber of Martin Balsam, Ava Gardner, Jose Ferrer, Arthur Kennedy, Christopher Walken, Chris Sarandon, Eli Wallach and Burgess Meredith all making fools of themselves, is an opportunity you simply cannot pass up in this dumb tale of yet another gateway to Hell!
Cristina Raines plays Alison Parker, a willowy model who decides to move in to a spooky Brooklyn apartment building, remarkably similar to that which Rosemary and her baby recently vacated. Looks like the place is managed by the same body corporate! Tenanted mainly by the aforementioned actors, Miss Raines soon discovers that things are just not kosher somehow. Scenes decidedly campy and less so, blur both her and the audience's lines of reality. Worthy of an academy award alone is that where Raines is seated opposite D'Angelo watching her masturbate. The camera remains on her face as she begins to crack-up in obvious embarrassment at D'Angelo's antics - who wouldn't have? It's arguably the shot of the century!
Michael Winner directs with his usual "God knows what this is gonna turn out like" philosophy. Responsible for such good films as THE MECHANIC and such losers as DEATH WISH 4, its a 50:50 proposition with ANY of his pics!
Horrific or laugh-out-loud funny? you choose! Outrageous fun though, however you look at it!
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