MovieChat Forums > The Sentinel (1977) Discussion > Such a strange yet very effective film.

Such a strange yet very effective film.

posted 3 years ago by [deleted]
6 replies | jump to latest

It's a bit shoddily slapped together but that just makes it better. The editing, music and some of the acting is a bit off but I find it adds to the energy and atmosphere of the film. Bizzare scenes like the Cats birthday party and the mute Lesbian rubbing herself just add to the whole crazed vibe.

I did note some strong similarities between this and Lucio Fulci's The Beyond (1981). A haunted hotel/apartment complex that's built upon the gateway to hell ? The opaque white eyes. The Sentinel even has a solid gore scene that is somewhat Fulci-esque. I do ponder if Fulci had seen and been influenced by this film.

And the cast...my goodness, some stellar names. Ava Gardner, Eli Wallach, Chris Sarandon, Burgess Meredith, Sylvia Miles, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Walken, Beverley D'Angelo. On paper this is one of the best casts in a Horror film ever. Yet many of the performances were middling and some had very minor roles.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21602) 3 years ago

Very odd for sure! It’s almost as if when all the insane things weren’t happening onscreen it had a bit of a 70’s ABC movie of the week vibe.

When the weird things started to go down though, some of it is down right shocking.

One thing I would like to know though, is was the real estate agent in on it?

[–] jcnyclv (1633) 3 years ago

I would say the agent was definitely involved.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21602) 3 years ago

She was so matter of fact like when she stated that all the people she had seen did not exist. Maybe she was trying to push her further into insanity. If I remember right, the agent did not reappear later in the story though. I may need to watch it again. 😀

[–] jcnyclv (1633) 3 years ago

I think she contacts the agent at some point to complain about the neighbors but is told that she and the priest are the only ones who live in the house. Then at the end I think she is showing the house to someone else, and telling them that an elderly nun lives in the house. That nun, of course, is the new "sentinel".

I think the church probably employs the agent. If I remember correctly the house is a gateway to hell (or something along those lines) and it needs a new "sentinel" every few years to guard the demons (the crazy neighbors) from escaping.

Personally I thought it was an excellent film. It's similar to Burnt Offerings, without the demons from hell angle.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21602) 3 years ago

Your right, I forgot about that ending seen involving the agent. Last night was my first viewing and I did like it a lot.

[–] Nanook (1992) 3 years ago

Yep, def. got The Beyond vibes, which I saw previously and may just have been one of the films that really got me in to horror. I have never been so frightened by something as simple as an old dude walking across a room. Read the book ages ago and remember liking it as well.