MovieChat Forums > Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974) Discussion > The Sentry

The Sentry

posted 9 years ago by twoheartedriver
8 replies | jump to latest

This episode gets a lot of bad press, mainly because of the ridiculous lizard suit with it's giant goofy head. It's actually a pretty decent episode. Kolchak has some wonderful on-screen chemistry with his real wife, the actress Kathie Browne. Tom Bosley has an amusing cameo. Also, the opening scene with Carl fleeing down an endless corridor on an electric cart--nervously glancing behind him from time to time--is suspenseful.

The setting with a relentlessly hostile monster preying on men in an isolated, claustrophobic location is a familiar one: The Thing, It! The Terror from Beyond Space, and Alien all used it to great success. The Sentry for all it’s faults ultimately succeeds by relying on some seasoned formula

[–] a_l_i_e_n 9 years ago

The story is derivative of a particular "Star Trek" episode, but it still succeeds for the reasons you have already mentioned, as does the opening sequence in which the creature is shown in quick flashes knocking out lights in the tunnels. The closing shot of Carl running out of frame- the final scene in the series even- is good enough that it should be considered an iconic image.

[–] StuOz 8 years ago

I like the lizard

I call myself a "science fiction TV fan" rather than a "horror fan"...so I was more at home with this hour as it brought back memories of several sci-fi TV hours with a lizard like this one.

The Sentry is one of my three favourite episodes of the series, the other two favourites are Legacy Of Terror and The Knightly Murders.

[–] darryl-tahirali 8 years ago

Another upvote for "The Sentry." It's not one of the best but it is enjoyable, particularly, as you note, the chemistry between Darrin and Kathie. I love the scene in which Irene asks the reporters, including Carl, "You don't want to see me sent back to parking-ticket detail, do you?" (or whatever the line is), and as the two reporters flanking Carl are shaking their heads and poo-pooing the idea, Carl, big, goofy grin on his face, is vigorously nodding.

The subterranean scenes feel claustrophobic, oppressive, and the swirl of characters played by Tom Bosley, Frank Marth, and Albert Paulsen create an intriguing milieu. Maybe not the ideal conclusion to the series, but a worthy watch for me.

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"The past is never dead. It isn't even past." -- William Faulkner

[–] Doom 8 years ago

I love The Sentry.

It's one of my favorite episodes.

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(EDIT: I still would love to know where they filmed this episode - does anyone have any idea?)

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Wait a minute... who am I here?

[–] darryl-tahirali 8 years ago

I still would love to know where they filmed this episode - does anyone have any idea?

So would I. In the exterior scenes at Merrymount Archives, I think I've spied California license plates on the cars in the background--no surprise as most of the filming happened locally. I'd love to know where the underground corridors were.

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"The past is never dead. It isn't even past." -- William Faulkner

[–] bookman7772000 8 years ago

You know how kids will sometimes laugh at anything? Well, my brother and I cracked up over Kolchak riding that scooter thing. Great episode, though, for all the reasons previously mentioned.

[–] shango7200 8 years ago

I liked this episode -- well better than The Werewolf and The Youth Killer ! LOL
But for one thing - I LOVE HOW THIS EPISODE STARTS OFF! Kolchak driving the golf cart in the underground tunnel / complex.
I have a "thing" for underground tunnels and traveling around in them and escaping from something.

"In every dimension , there's another YOU!"

[–] zwolf 8 years ago

I like "The Sentry." The scenes of Kolchak driving the cart through the darkened tunnels in a panic build a good sense of dread about whatever's after him. Yeah, the lizard suit is pretty disappointing, but I was raised watching movies like The Alligator People so I had to develop enough of an imagination to cut them some slack. It's not a bad episode, really, you just have to work with it.