The Sentinel

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2:31

The Sentinel

R

1977

1h 32m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

45%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

44%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

A New York City model with a troubled past, Alison Parker decides to make some changes in her life. Breaking up with her boyfriend, Michael, Alison relocates to an apartment in a brownstone building where the only other tenant is a withdrawn blind priest. After experiencing strange occurrences, Alison begins to realize why the holy man is present -- the building has an evil presence that must be kept in check at all costs.

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David Pirie

Time Out

09/28/2018

The only frightening thing about The Sentinel is its director's mind.

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Variety Staff

Variety

09/28/2018

The Sentinel is a grubby, grotesque excursion into religioso psychodrama, notable for uniformly poor performances by a large cast of familiar names and direction that is hysterical and heavy-handed.

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Kristen Lopez

AwardsCircuit.com

09/28/2018

The scene stealer, though, is Burgess Meredith as Alison's neighbor, Charles Chazen.

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Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Dec 8

3/5

A lot of really interesting ideas are executed rather sloppily, albeit entertainingly, among an all-star cast.

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Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

Dec 5

3/5

At times illogically plotted, this religious thriller boasts a stacked cast and a few dynamite set pieces. It just too often feels hampered by weird adaptation choices from the source material.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

04/08/2025

1/5

…if you want to know why, a decade after his death, Michael Winner is still remembered as one of the worst directors in cinema history, The Sentinel is waiting for you…

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Vincent S

@Vin_E_At_The_Movies Mar 21

This is terribly written junk with corny, bad performances and not one scare at all. It is an unintentionally funny embarrassment with a terrible and predictable ending. The actors all look like they don't want to be there, and I heard the shoot was a nightmare. A terribly directed failure and those that think it is a cult classic. Really? Bad, bad!

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Jason W

@Thejasonwatts Nov 19

Starts a little slow, but once it gets going it is a decent movie, filled with a litany of well know actors. It's not without its flaws, but a lot of fantastic special fx in the blood and gore department. The climax was great.

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Daniel C

@indymann1212 Nov 5

A scary and mysterious plot that keeps you guessing. Beverly D'Angelo, Christopher Walken, and a beautiful Cristina Raines make for a compelling ensemble cast. A great 70's horror thriller!

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Luis Otavio F

@RT47579327 01/05/2025

The plot is really innovative, but the development is weak and lacking in charisma, unfortunately a complete waste of time, both for them (actors) and for us (viewers).

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D. Hunter P

@RT01359631 11/25/2024

This movie did have some creepy moments and both some alarming social horror and sexual elements. The finale fell a little bit flat, but the last scene as a new couple is being moved in by the real estate agent was a nice touch.

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11/18/2024

One of the weirdest horror films from 79’s. Though film was off-the rails nuts, It was fun watching the amazing cast in such a campy horror film.

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Michael Winner

Director

Chris Sarandon

Michael Lerman

Cristina Raines

Alison Parker

Martin Balsam

Prof. Ruzinsky

John Carradine

Fr. Francis Matthew Halloran

José Ferrer

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The Sentinel: Trailer 1

2:31

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Synopsis

A New York City model with a troubled past, Alison Parker decides to make some changes in her life. Breaking up with her boyfriend, Michael, Alison relocates to an apartment in a brownstone building where the only other tenant is a withdrawn blind priest. After experiencing strange occurrences, Alison begins to realize why the holy man is present -- the building has an evil presence that must be kept in check at all costs.

Director: Michael Winner
Producer: Jeffrey Konvitz, Michael Winner
Screenwriter: Michael Winner, Jeffrey Konvitz
Distributor: GoodTimes Home Video [us], Universal Pictures, MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 7, 1977, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 18, 2016
Runtime: 1h 32m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)