It’s not a secret that I love a good horror film. I’ve
written praises for so many and lamented the fact that some outstanding horror
films have been passed over time and again when it comes to award season. But
lately there has been a glut of horror films, a far cry from when I was younger
and you had one come out maybe three times a year (with the exception of
drive-in fare). The thing about those movies is that most of them took the time
to be a solid film as well as a horror flick. Rather than a hastily tossed
together “found footage” movie, there were movies with plots that had some
depth. That was the case with THE SENTINEL.
The movie takes place in New York in the seventies. Alison
Parker (Christina Raines) is a high paid model living the good life. A career
on the rise and a high class lawyer, Michael Lerman (Chris Sarandon), for a
boyfriend everything is going her way. Michael wants her to move in with him
but Alison wants to live on her own for a while first. While apartment hunting
with a real estate agent (Ava Gardner) she finds just the right place, an old
brownstone with a furnished vacant apartment.
Alison moves in knowing only that the top floor is home to a
reclusive aging priest named Father Halliran (John Carradine). Once she’s moved
in the rest of the tenants begin to make their presence known. First is a short
visit by Charles Chazen (Burgess Meredith), a kindly old man with a parakeet on
his shoulder and a cat at his feet. He welcomes her to the building and tells
her the names of the other tenants. The next two she meets are Gerde Engstrom
(Sylvia Miles) and Sandra (Beverly D’Angelo), a pair of lesbians who surprise
her when Sandra masturbates in front of her while Gerde makes coffee.
Early on Alison begins having strange feelings while staying
in her apartment. She hears noises upstairs but finds nothing. When she hears
things once more later on one of the more terrifying moments in the movie
happens involving a person from her past, one that brings back harsh memories
of her childhood. To tell you more about that would ruin it so just let me say
that this is one of the creepiest moments I’ve ever seen in a horror film.
Kudos to make up man Dick Smith for this amazing scene.
With each passing day Alison begins feeling drained and ill,
collapsing at a commercial shoot. Concerned about her well-being Michael begins
to look into both her past and the brownstone and its occupants. What he
uncovers is not for the faint of heart. *SPOILER ALERT* While the trailer and
tag lines pretty much reveal this, the brownstone is actually the gates of
hell. Realizing he is all that stands between Alison and a life of servitude
guarding those gates, Michael sets out to save her.
As I said, most of the items I’ve discussed here can be
found in the trailer for the movie or blurbs written about it. It doesn’t
matter. It is the constructions of this tale, the fine combination of acting,
set design, location scouting and the overall direction of Michael Winner that
makes this movie run like a Swiss clock. The jumps aren’t forced and yet you
will jump. The eeriness of the brownstone and its tenants will make your skin
crawl. And the final revelation at the end will be one not guessed early on.
Released on blu-ray by Shout/Scream Factory, the
presentation is perfection with a clear picture on hand to help those
goosebumps along. Not only do you get that new high definition transfer of the
film the extras include an audio commentary track by Christina Raines, an audio
commentary track with writer/producer Jeffrey Konvitz, an interview with
assistant director Ralph S. Singleton, audio commentary by director Michael
Winner, theatrical trailers and TV spots and a still gallery featuring movie
stills, press photos, posters and lobby cards.
Horror fans will want to add this to their collection as
quickly as possible. It’s a horror film that holds up quite well after all
these years, having been released in 1977. My guess is that after seeing it the
odds of you walking around the house in the dark will decrease for a time and
you will never look behind a door again in a dark house. Another great movie
from Shout/Scream that needs to be on your shelf.
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