And that's what makes this supernatural horror movie so interesting is that it gets the imagination rolling as to what could happen beyond this had there been a sequel. Unlike "The Exorcist" and "The Omen", there were no sequels, although there has been a remake. This is also one of the biggest cast of well-known faces (of the past and the future!), and everybody plays an important part no matter how big or small their role is.
The troubled heroine here is New York fashion model Christina Raines who is gifted with the opportunity to move into an apartment in the luxurious Brooklyn Heights area that is only $400 a month. Too good to be true it seems, and it is, especially when after meeting all of the other tenants (with the exception of a James blind priest), real estate agent Ava Gardner tells her that a good majority of the apartment building has been vacant for 3 years. This leads her to a mystery to find out why she saw people that don't even exist, and this creates a mystery that is aided with the help of her boyfriend Chris Sarandon and best friend Deborah Raffin.
Such legendary actors as Jose Ferrar, Burgess Meredith, Arthur Kennedy, Martin Balsam and Eli Wallach turn up in supporting roles. Meredith absolutely hams it up joyously as a tenant who apparently doesn't exist who owns just a black and white cat and a yellow bird from Brazil. Then there's the eccentric Sylvia Miles, doing a Bette Davis impression, living with her obvious girlfriend played by a very young Beverly D'Angelo.
While Raines doesn't seem shocked by their relationship, she's instantly turned off by D'Angelo's sudden fondling of herself that is extra ordinarily crude in the way it's presented yet necessary to set up more of the mystery surrounding the remainder of the other characters who pop up in a party thrown for her by Meredith out of the blue. The tension builds up greatly until all is revealed and Raines faces her destiny.
It will be a delight for fans of modern Cinema to recognize several future stars including Jeff Goldblum, Tom Berenger and Christopher Walken. Also, fans of the New York based soaps will be delighted to see some of the regular faces of daytime popping up in roles as well. This could have been hokie, and certainly some parts indeed will make you laugh, but overall, this is delightfully spooky and a great follow-up to "Rosemary's Baby", "The Exorcist" and "The Omen", and certainly a lot better than any of the sequels to all of those films.
The troubled heroine here is New York fashion model Christina Raines who is gifted with the opportunity to move into an apartment in the luxurious Brooklyn Heights area that is only $400 a month. Too good to be true it seems, and it is, especially when after meeting all of the other tenants (with the exception of a James blind priest), real estate agent Ava Gardner tells her that a good majority of the apartment building has been vacant for 3 years. This leads her to a mystery to find out why she saw people that don't even exist, and this creates a mystery that is aided with the help of her boyfriend Chris Sarandon and best friend Deborah Raffin.
Such legendary actors as Jose Ferrar, Burgess Meredith, Arthur Kennedy, Martin Balsam and Eli Wallach turn up in supporting roles. Meredith absolutely hams it up joyously as a tenant who apparently doesn't exist who owns just a black and white cat and a yellow bird from Brazil. Then there's the eccentric Sylvia Miles, doing a Bette Davis impression, living with her obvious girlfriend played by a very young Beverly D'Angelo.
While Raines doesn't seem shocked by their relationship, she's instantly turned off by D'Angelo's sudden fondling of herself that is extra ordinarily crude in the way it's presented yet necessary to set up more of the mystery surrounding the remainder of the other characters who pop up in a party thrown for her by Meredith out of the blue. The tension builds up greatly until all is revealed and Raines faces her destiny.
It will be a delight for fans of modern Cinema to recognize several future stars including Jeff Goldblum, Tom Berenger and Christopher Walken. Also, fans of the New York based soaps will be delighted to see some of the regular faces of daytime popping up in roles as well. This could have been hokie, and certainly some parts indeed will make you laugh, but overall, this is delightfully spooky and a great follow-up to "Rosemary's Baby", "The Exorcist" and "The Omen", and certainly a lot better than any of the sequels to all of those films.