Watch The Sentinel

The movie The Sentinel from 1977 is a horror film that tells the story of a young woman named Alison Parker, played by Cristina Raines, who moves into a new apartment in New York City. Alison is a model who is looking for her independence, so she decides to move out of her boyfriend's apartment and into her own place. However, things quickly take a dark turn when Alison starts experiencing strange and terrifying events in her new apartment. She hears strange noises coming from the apartment next door, and she begins to see bizarre visions of demonic figures and unsettling images.

As the supernatural occurrences become more frequent, Alison begins to question her own sanity. However, she soon uncovers the truth behind the strange happenings in her building - there is a gateway to hell located in the basement, and the residents of the apartment building are all part of a demonic conspiracy to keep the gateway open.

Alison must now fight for her own survival as she becomes entangled in the web of evil that surrounds her. Along the way, she meets a cast of eccentric characters, including Clara, played by Ava Gardner, and Michael, played by Chris Sarandon, who offer their help in unraveling the mystery of the building's dark past.

Despite the film's rather slow pace, The Sentinel succeeds in building an unsettling and eerie atmosphere that keeps the audience on edge throughout the entire movie. The creepy old brownstone apartment building where the story takes place is a character in itself and provides a suitably spooky setting for the film's supernatural shenanigans.

The film's strong cast also helps to elevate the material. Cristina Raines gives a convincing performance as the troubled heroine, while Ava Gardner brings a sense of gravitas to her role as the mysterious and reclusive Clara. Chris Sarandon, in one of his earlier film roles, also shines as Michal, injecting the film with a sense of dark sexuality and danger.

One of the film's most memorable scenes sees Alison attending a raucous party in the apartment above hers, where the guests include a cadre of demons and possessed party-goers. The scene is both unsettling and darkly humorous, showcasing the film's blend of horror and camp.

Overall, The Sentinel is a satisfying horror film that delivers plenty of scares and an engrossing story. Although it may not be as well-known as other classic horror movies from the 1970s, it's certainly worth a watch for fans of the genre.

The Sentinel is a 1976 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 19.