The Sentinel (1977) - Newspaper Ad

San Francisco Examiner - February 6, 1977

My memories of when I first became aware of The Sentinel, versus when I first saw it, are as murky as the film's narrative. I know that I saw a static image of the film during the Science Fiction Film Awards ceremony that was broadcast in 1978. Where The Sentinel was nominated for Best Horror Movie and up against The Hills Have Eyes, Dogs, Kingdom of the Spiders, and The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane. The winner was the very deserving The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane.

I also know that I first saw The Sentinel on broadcast television, but I do not recall it being broadcast on a major network. The film might have been a tad too sleazy and off-putting for one of the big three. That it had not been all that successful at the box office also did not do it any favors in selling to ancillary markets, either. Even with some minor edits for content and, most likely, time, the movie still proved unnerving and unsettling. It also traumatized my dad, of all people.

In 1979 or 1980 I read a book by Jeffrey Konvitz called The Guardian, which turned out to be a sequel to his novel The Sentinel. Which was the source material for this movie. I did not read The Sentinel until 1981 or 82.

I do know that when MCA Home Video released the film, I did rent it and watch it. But that had to have been in 1987 or 88. I think.

Scream Factory released the film on blu-ray, which I just so happen to own. So I give it an occasional watch. Like every other film directed by Michael Winner, it is blunt, uneven, violent, gross, sexually graphic, and exploitative. This is one of those movies that leaves its viewers feeling in need of a shower or cleansing bath.

Great score by Gil Melle, thought. That, along with counting the bonkers number of recognizable and underutilized actors in the cast, is the best thing about the movie.