THE MANITOU (1978) Blu-ray review

The Manitou (1978) d. William Girdler (USA) (85 min)

What medical experts originally believe to be a tumor on the neck of patient Karen Tandy (Susan Strasberg) proves to be a fetus growing at an abnormally accelerated rate. She reaches out to former lover and phony psychic Harry Erskine (Tony Curtis) for help, but when attempts at conventional surgery go horribly awry, it is revealed that Karen’s nervous system is now possessed by the spirit of a 400-year-old Native American demon named Misquamacus who is ready to be reborn!

THE SENTINEL (1977) Blu-ray Review

The Sentinel (1977) d. Michael Winner (USA) (92 min)

Seeking space from her lawyer beau (top-billed Chris Sarandon, sporting a truly hideous mustache), beautiful model Alison (Cristina Raines) rents out an NYC brownstone apartment and finds that in addition to sharing a rooftop with some decidedly bizarre neighbors, her new residence just happens to be the mailing address for a doorway to Hell, guarded by a blind priest (John Carradine) on the top floor. Things only get weirder when she starts hearing strange noises at night, losing consciousness during the day, and seeing visions of her long-dead father wandering the halls.

BURNT OFFERINGS (1976) movie review

Burnt Offerings (1976) d. Dan Curtis (USA)

With their young son (Ben's Lee Harcourt Montgomery) in tow, Karen Black and Oliver Reed (irretrievably miscast as a “normal” couple) rent a country mansion for the summer and soon become entangled in mysterious goings-on. Predictably directed by TV vet Curtis (Trilogy of Terror) with every surprise telegraphed by Bob Cobert's agonizingly familiar woodwind score, this criminally inert entry in the haunted house pantheon is boring to the point of catatonia.