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The Sentinel

The Sentinel

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Creepy, Odd, Unsettling Sideshow of a Horror Flick
Review: It amazes me that this movie was made when it was. Viewing it again recently creeped me out much more than it did on my first viewing years ago. Back then, I had read and really liked the book, when I saw the film, i wasn't as impressed. Now after viewing it again, it scares me more. Some of the things here that I did not apprecaite before, practically jumped off of the screen and slapped me in the face. On the surface, it is very much that typical gates of hell meets Burnt Offerings kind of story - but really it is in some respects a complete freak show, in-you-face attempt to make you squirm. Have we become so conservative that this older film seems more potent now than then?

I put the DVD in - vaguely remembering most of it and as the credits roll I see: Chris Sarandon, Burgess Meredith, Ava Gardner, Beverly D'Angelo, Sylvia Miles, John Carradine, Eli Wallach, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Walken ... wow! Once the story takes off, were treated to naked freaks from hell, a horrific menage scene, acid-trip looking birthday parties for cats, and Beverly D'angelo masturbating silently on her couch in front of company! Of course they're all disciples of Hell pursuing poor Christina Raines - but man do they creep you out. Recommended more as reminder of what we used to be able to get away with than the ultimate and obviios conclusion but what a sick, creepy ride.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Weird, creepy, but a cool film!
Review: It's a weird one but I like it. the characters are disturbing and the plot is good. Very on-the-edge-of-your-seat movie. Not a very known film by a lot of people, but if you see it it will stay with you.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Welcome to oblivion !
Review: One of my favorites.The story hasn't aged a bit.The plot as well as the effects are still outstanding.Although HELLRAISER is an original masterpiece( I love all the installments),Clive Barker might have got some inspiration after watching this great movie.I am talking about the deformed creatures from Hell.They look cool as well as the other characters.Cristina Raines is a beautiful talented actress in the role of a tormented model ,Chris Sarandon and the other actors and actresses do a wonderful job.If you like spooky horror stories watch this winner made by Winner.It's HAIR-RAISING!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Watcher At The Gate...
Review: Super-model Alison Parker (Cristina Raines) wants an apartment of her own, so she has a place to go if things don't work out with her boyfriend, Michael (Chris Sarandon). Alison was traumatized a few years earlier when she walked in on her creepy father during one of his extra-marital "parties". It was NOT a pretty sight! She had attempted suicide over the ordeal. Her mother stayed with dad because she had nowhere else to go. After dad's death, odd things begin happening to Alison. She passes out at a photo-shoot. Back at her apartment building, she begins meeting other tenants who are more than a bit odd. Among them are Burgess Merideth as an old guy with way too much enthusiasm, and Sylvia Miles and Beverly D'Angelo as a couple of gals who can't keep their hands off each other. D'Angelo makes Alison extremely uncomfortable by being rather... um, er, naughty in front of her. Alison also learns about the priest (John Carradine) who lives on the top floor. He's blind, but spends his entire life "looking" out the window! When Alison complains about her weird neighbors, the realtor (Ava Gardner) tells her that no one else lives in the building except for Alison and the priest! Later, Alison passes out while filming a commercial and never fully recovers. She is in a daze. Michael tries to get to the bottom of things and finds out a very bizarre secret. A secret that will cost lives and alter destinies! THE SENTINEL is a good spooker with many interesting characters. It also has tons of stars, both old and new including Martin Balsam (Psycho, Cape Fear), Jose Ferrer, Arthur Kennedy, Eli Wallach (The Good The Bad And The Ugly), a very young Jerry Orbach (tv's Law And Order), Christopher Walken (Batman Returns, Sleepy Hollow), Jeff Goldblum (The Fly, Jurrassic Park), and others! The finale alone is worth the price of the DVD! If you like zombies, ghosts, demons, occult, good vs. evil, and a deep sense of paranoia and fear, then THE SENTINEL is just what the mad doctor ordered! ...

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Time warp back to the Seventies
Review: The horror flicks of the 70's are finally showing up on dvd. Like Gargoyles, Omega Man, The Devil's Rain and other genre flix from this period your memories will be fonder than the actual product. This is a good movie, and it makes me wonder what happened to Christina Raines. The movie benefits from a strong supporting cast, especially Burgess Meredith. I wonder if Beverly D'Angelo lists this on her resume? My only gripe with the product is the lack of extras. (All you get is the trailer.) I recommend this film.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Sentinel is a spooky thrill fest
Review: The Sentinel is a great haunted brownstone flick It is mysterious and intriguing Watch out for the scene with the wife from Natl Lampoon's Vacation!!! Great fun.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: They Don't Make 'em Like This Anymore
Review: There is one thing to say about this film: They don't make 'em like this anymore. Today's horror "movies" are shlock-filled teenage comedies. This is a "film." It is a slow moving, creepy, dirty trip into the dark. I have the pleasure of remembering this gem from my childhood. It haunted me for years. The only other film that stayed with me this way from childhood was Burnt Offerings. Everything about this film is superb. from the script to the acting, to the star-studded cast (you won't believe it, really) to the direction and the special effects! Ah! the special effects! Never, and I mean NEVER could film makers get away today with what they did then, that is the casting of real "freaks" to play the Hordes of Hell. Yikes! That guy with the big face (I saw him on Sixty Minutes once; "elephant man" disease) to the guy with the testicles hanging off of his chin (what the heck is that!?) they're all skin-crawlingly good.

Make no doubt about it, if you appreciate an eerie film and not another "I know What You Did Last Summer" (...), than this is the film for you.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Look Out For Lippy!
Review: This film was a bit above the standard genre fare being released at the time. I remember going to see it after reading the book and it really freaked me out. Towards the end, when all the "poor souls from hell" appear, they actually used some disfigured people (saving money on fx make-up?). There was this man from Coney Island, we used to call him "Lippy," that scared the hell outta me when I was a kid (in the 60's). He was probably a nice man, but I after the 1st time I saw him I had nightmares for months. I did a double take when I saw him in this movie... it was incredible to have one of your childhood fears realized like that... got me again dude (lol). So look for Lippy at the end of the film...ya can't miss him ; )

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Great Movie, Poor DVD Transfer
Review: This film will give you goose bumps from start to finish. I've watched it several times and it still scares the "heck" out of me! The combination of a good script, eerie music, and great acting made for a great shocker horror film. And for such a relatively unknown film, what a great cast!

Unfortunately, GoodTimes has done their typically tragic job on the production of this DVD. For starters, the film is not presented in widescreen format. There's enough tape hiss and jitter to make one wonder if they used a VHS tape as the master! And there are only two "extras" - a trailer that looks like it was transferred from a camcorder and the shortest (2 page) "production notes" I've ever seen. Not surprisingly, the close-captioning is extremely poor, too.

Sadly, if you want to add this movie to your personal collection, this DVD is all that's currently available. Please, Universal, release a DVD that does justice to this movie!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great atmosphere, a stunning cast, well worth watching!
Review: This is a classic '70s style horror film, probably quite shocking at the time, and still very effective today. Atmosphere is everything in this film, but be prepared for a few truly shocking jolts as well.

The story is pretty straight forward. A young woman moves into a new apartment where strange occurrences begin to take place...but the story is in the details, and the wonderful performances of an amazingly chosen cast that consists of a who's who of veteran stars and up & coming talent. Trust me, you'll have a field day spotting such familiar faces such as Chris Sarandon, Burgess Meredith, Eli Wallach, Christopher Walken, Martin Balsam, John Carradine, José Ferrer, Ava Gardner, Arthur Kennedy, Jeff Goldblum, Jerry Orbach, Sylvia Miles, Beverly D'Angelo, William Hickey, Tom Berenger , & Nana Visitor. They don't put together cast like that anymore, even some of the smallest parts have outstanding actors & actresses playing them.

The film features a very effective performance by Cristina Raines that shouldn't be missed.


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