The Sentinel

The Sentinel. The Sentinel is a 1977 American supernatural horror film directed by Michael Winner and starring Cristina Raines, Chris Sarandon, Ava Gardner, Burgess Meredith, and Sylvia Miles. The film is based on the 1974 novel of the same name by Jeffrey Konvitz, which was inspired by Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist. The Sentinel features a mix of horror film and mystery film elements, similar to The Omen and The Amityville Horror.

Introduction

The Sentinel is a classic example of a horror film that explores the themes of Catholic Church and demonology, similar to The Exorcist and The Omen. The film's plot is reminiscent of Rosemary's Baby, which was directed by Roman Polanski and starred Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes. The Sentinel has been compared to other horror films of the 1970s, such as The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Halloween, which were directed by Tobe Hooper and John Carpenter, respectively. The film's score was composed by Gil Melle, who also worked on The Andromeda Strain and Kolchak: The Night Stalker.

Plot

The plot of The Sentinel revolves around a young model named Allison Parker, played by Cristina Raines, who moves into a Brooklyn Heights apartment building that is actually a gateway to Hell. The building is inhabited by a cast of eccentric characters, including a cat lady played by Sylvia Miles and a priest played by John Carradine. As Allison Parker delves deeper into the mystery of the building, she discovers that it is being used as a portal to Hell by a group of demons and Satanists, led by a character played by Burgess Meredith. The film's plot is similar to The Amityville Horror, which was based on a true story and starred James Brolin and Margot Kidder.

Characters

The characters in The Sentinel are well-developed and complex, with Cristina Raines delivering a standout performance as Allison Parker. The film also features a strong supporting cast, including Chris Sarandon as Michael Lerman, Ava Gardner as Miss Logan, and Burgess Meredith as Charles Chazen. The characters are reminiscent of those in The Omen, which starred Gregory Peck and Lee Remick, and Rosemary's Baby, which starred Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes. The film's characters have been compared to those in The Shining, which was directed by Stanley Kubrick and starred Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall.

Production

The production of The Sentinel was marked by controversy and difficulty, with Michael Winner clashing with the film's producers, including Jeffrey Konvitz and Andrew J. Fenady. The film was shot on location in New York City and Brooklyn Heights, with a budget of $3.5 million. The film's score was composed by Gil Melle, who worked with Orson Welles on Touch of Evil and The Stranger. The film's cinematography was handled by Richard C. Kratina, who worked on The Andromeda Strain and Kolchak: The Night Stalker.

Reception

The reception of The Sentinel was mixed, with some critics praising the film's atmosphere and performances, while others found it to be overly sensationalistic and exploitative. The film has since become a cult classic, with fans of horror films and supernatural horror praising its unique blend of horror and mystery. The film has been compared to other horror classics, such as The Exorcist and The Omen, which were directed by William Friedkin and Richard Donner, respectively. The film's influence can be seen in later horror films, such as The Conjuring and The Ring, which were directed by James Wan and Gore Verbinski, respectively. Category:1977 films