An extremely high quotient of freaky character actors propels this silly and wildly over-directed horror film. Cristina Raines is a model who rents an unusually large NYC apartment only to find out that the building happens to be on the exact same location as the gates of hell! Raines, who's not really a bad actress, is pretty dull but the film features such a wacky supporting cast that they make this otherwise lousy movie bearable. Burgess Meredith, Sylvia Miles and Beverly D'Angelo play her neighbors, Chris Sarandon is her oddball boyfriend, and Ava Gardner --- looking pretty tired --- plays a real estate agent. Arthur Kennedy, Christopher Walken, Eli Wallach and John Carridine are in it too. The director, Michael Winner, had a reputation for choosing the worst possible material. With credits like THE SENTINEL,THE NIGHTCOMERS, various versions of DEATH WISH and two woefully ill-advised remakes: THE BIG SLEEP and THE WICKED LADY, it's no surprise Winner's career has evaporated.
Review of The Sentinel
