The Sentinel (1977)

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by donidarko

It's a WTF? kind of movie, and for the 70s it really pushed the envelope.....

Agreed. I never thought the masturbation scene from the book would make it into the movie and I was (pleasantly) surprised when it did (of course, being a teenager and seeing that, who wouldn't have loved it?! ).

Without doing research, I'd venture to say it's the first American movie from a major studio to feature a woman masturbating, though if anyone knows different, please share. THE SAILOR WHO FELL FROM GRACE WITH THE SEA the previous year had such a scene, but I wouldn't consider Avco-Embassy one of the major studios.

[wonkavision]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

As a teenager I read the original novel this was based on and then saw the movie and hated both.

Why in the world would you watch the movie if you already hated the book? Especially considering the author of the book co-wrote the screenplay.
Hmmm...
Does not compute.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by wonkavision

Why in the world would you watch the movie if you already hated the book? Especially considering the author of the book co-wrote the screenplay.

Hmmm...

Does not compute.

Because when I was a teenager I read everything that came my way and my friends and I saw just about every movie that played in my town, regardless of provenance or pedigree. A new movie, especially a new horror movie, was always a welcome sight even if its source material had left a bad taste with me.

Besides, there have been more than a few good movies based on bad books (THE GODFATHER and GOLDFINGER are two famous examples) and hope springs eternal.

So it computes just fine for me.

[JAWS]

Put me down as one who really enjoys this flick.. I seem to return to it ever 4 to 5 years.

[klauswhereareyou]

Burgess Meredith was good in this.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Every movie is potentially somebody's favorite, but man, I'm surprised by the love for this one here. As a teenager I read the original novel this was based on and then saw the movie and hated both. I guess it's ripe for a reappraisal. Glad fans are happy about this release.

I liked the book (and the sequel, to a lesser extent), but the movie just upped the craziness to such an enjoyable level. Jeffrey Konvitz, the author of the books, is currently writing a third installment, so it'll be fun to read that with a new Blu of the film accompanying it.

[JackForrester]

Originally Posted by dissention

I liked the book (and the sequel, to a lesser extent), but the movie just upped the craziness to such an enjoyable level. Jeffrey Konvitz, the author of the books, is currently writing a third installment, so it'll be fun to read that with a new Blu of the film accompanying it.

I really like the book, the story's very original. When I read it I was expecting a boring Rosemary's Baby rip-off (the old building, the weird tenants, etc), but I was completely surprised by the twists.
I liked the movie a lot more when I was younger. Last time I watched I noticed several flaws (the music is wrong and soapy, there's too much light in the scenes, a movie like this should be darker, and a few scenes who used to scare me now look campy). But still, it was pretty daring for its time (the masturbation scene, the deformed people), you didn't see a lot of horror movies like this, so still deserves a lot of credit. The ending is still creepy as hell.

I skipped the sequel as I heard it was just a repetition of events from the first book (is it true?).
Didn't know Konvitz was writing a third one, that's cool. I think I might read the sequel after all.

[ditcin]

I think the reason why the film is so good is because the author did the screenplay himself - so of which is word for word.

When I drive in to NYC from Staten Island I go through BKLNY and drive along the water and under the overpasss where the Brownstone building is that was used in the film.

[donidarko]

Originally Posted by ditcin

I think the reason why the film is so good is because the author did the screenplay himself - so of which is word for word.

When I drive in to NYC from Staten Island I go through BKLNY and drive along the water and under the overpasss where the Brownstone building is that was used in the film.

I used to live in Brooklyn Heights in the mid 80s. I would bike, and run past the house every night...always gave me the creeps....the front of the Brownstone in the movie is actually the back with a small yard, and the house sits at the end of the Brooklyn Promenede. I also used to always see the filming locations for WINDOWS, WITHOUT A TRACE and MOONSTRUCK while living in the Heights. It was a great neighborhood in the 80s.

I would take friends and people I knew of that experienced THE SENTINEL by the house and it was always hilarious watching their expressions of "Oh my God...No Way!!" A great end to an evening after having drinks at the bars around the corner......

[BluVinyl]

Well on the good side, I can wait a long time to see how people like/dislike the PQ since at $27.99 its not close to something I would pay. It was one of the few DVDs I ever bought, but that was in some bargain bin. Enjoyable and creepy movie.

[AaronSCH]

Originally Posted by donidarko

I think what makes The Sentinel so popular is its creep factor. It is such a bizarre movie with so much crazy s**t going on that it's fascinating in a "I can't believe I'm seeing this and hearing this." It's a WTF? kind of movie, and for the 70s it really pushed the envelope.....

That's it. It's the "creep factor." It is second only to "The Exorcist" in producing that emotional discomfort. Even as an adult, I will not watch either film alone. These films aren't just scary—they are truly disturbing.

[troykan]

So thrilled this is coming out, just like others, scared the crap out of me as a child.

Truly love this film, truly a great underrated gem of the 70s!

[wonkavision]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Because when I was a teenager I read everything that came my way and my friends and I saw just about every movie that played in my town, regardless of provenance or pedigree. A new movie, especially a new horror movie, was always a welcome sight even if its source material had left a bad taste with me.

Besides, there have been more than a few good movies based on bad books (THE GODFATHER and GOLDFINGER are two famous examples) and hope springs eternal.

So it computes just fine for me.

I generally shy away from comparing books and movies due to them being just such different mediums. That said, If I do not like a book, I will not waste time with the movie and vice-versa. Usually due to disliking the main plot among other traits. Life is short and there are way too many books and movies I have not seen or read to waste time on things I do not like. It's like mushrooms. I hate them anyway you present them to me. I guess maybe I have stronger convictions than you and not as open to being hit over the head repeatedly with things I really don't like.

I get what you're saying though, but it looks like your theory with The Sentinel did not work out for you but I did appreciate your ironic post.

[Leslie Dame]

Originally Posted by Mahadeva

I'll only buy this if it's an improvement over the existing German BD. But knowing Scream Factory will just use whaterver is given to them I highly doubt it'll be any better than the German release.

Sure there is room for improvement but I thought the German/Austrian Blu wasn't too shabby. So happy to own it on Blu-ray.

As for the movie, I think it still holds up pretty well. It's nasty, it's weird and can be quite creepy at times. Some of the plot doesn't make sense but hey, what a cast!

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by wonkavision

I generally shy away from comparing books and movies due to them being just such different mediums. That said, If I do not like a book, I will not waste time with the movie and vice-versa. Usually due to disliking the main plot among other traits. Life is short and there are way too many books and movies I have not seen or read to waste time on things I do not like. It's like mushrooms. I hate them anyway you present them to me. I guess maybe I have stronger convictions than you and not as open to being hit over the head repeatedly with things I really don't like.



I get what you're saying though, but it looks like your theory with The Sentinel did not work out for you but I did appreciate your ironic post.

Your philosophy works for me as an adult and I share it, but as I've said in my last two posts, I was a teenager at the time I read the book and subsequently saw the movie and at that time life was NOT too short (or didn't seem so) for me to pass up any horror novel or film. I wasn't as discerning as I am now, I just wanted to read and see it ALL!

Plus Cristina Raines didn't make my decision too tough, the novel be damned! [emoji6]

[ForEver Blu]

Originally Posted by Losey

I own the german blu, which includes Winner's commentary track. Very interesting. He is certainly a character; very frank, even peremptory when it comes to his opinion on Ms Raines' lack of talent. I don't quite agree (even thought the great supporting cast tends to outshine her), but the lack of self-consciousness on his part is quite refreshing.

At a past horror con, I asked Chris Sarandon about his experience working on this film.


He had no kind words for the Director, basically said he was an *******.

[Aclea]

Originally Posted by ForEver Blu

At a past horror con, I asked Chris Sarandon about his experience working on this film.


He had no kind words for the Director, basically said he was an *******.

An unsurprisingly common verdict. When Winner became a restaurant critic he was so unpopular that it was rumoured most chefs garnished his meals with their own special sauce named in his honor:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...er's+Sauce

[Lord Summerisle]

I saw this on TV a while back. I don't remember a lot about it but I seem to remember it being pretty entertaining. It had sort of an Omen vibe I think.

[L.J.]

Just preordered it, such a good film. Thought it would never get a BD release.

[PowellPressburger]

I listened to the Michael Winner commentary track on the DVD aid The Big Sleep (1978) and it was one of the best tracks I've heard. he tells some tales refrains some of the actors etc but he was so complimentary and kind with his words.

His filmography while not celebrated it is very interesting and impressive with some of the genres he has taken on. I wish he was still with us to have participated in more bonus features for this movie and other titles of his.