The Sentinel (1977)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Michael Winner

Writers:

Jeffrey Konvitz (novel)
Jeffrey Konvitz (screenplay)

Release Date:

12 May 1977 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

She was young. She was beautiful. She was next!

Plot:

Not ready for marriage, a fashion model moves into an unbelievably nice Brooklyn Heights apartment, where scary occurrences turn into a much more frightening turn of events.

Plot Keywords:

Priest | Model | Church | Cat | Birthday Party

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Chris Sarandon	...	Michael Lerman
Cristina Raines	...	Alison Parker
Martin Balsam	...	Prof. Ruzinsky
John Carradine	...	Fr. Halliran
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

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:16 (cut) | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:18 (re-rating) | Argentina:X (original rating) | Australia:R | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R | Finland:K-18 (1986) (cut version) | Finland:(Banned) (1977) (uncut version)

Filming Locations:

10 Montague Terrace, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Universal had hoped to sign on 'Don Siegel (I)' as director, but Siegel ultimately bowed out due to his discomfort with this particular movie genre.

Goofs:

Continuity: While Allison and the landlady are having coffee, the coffee cup is in the landlady's hand, then when the camera changes angles it’s on the table, then back in her hand when the camera angle goes back.

Movie Connections:

References Rosemary's Baby (1968)

EErie as all hell

Not a great movie, but above average for 70's horror. A little slow and confusing at first, but lead up to one of the eeriest, and most frightening endings to any horror movie to date. (note: not for the squeamish, the use of all real "freaks" in end can be disturbing to many . . . especially myself). All in all, if you want to scare the bejeezes out of yourself, and don't have a weak stomach, I recommend this movie. (it's worth it just to see Chris Walken in one of his first- non speaking- roles)