Episode 31 - Winner Takes It All

In episode 31 of the podcast, we focus on two films from the massive filmography of director Michael Winner.  Winner's most famous films are probably the Death Wish series which starred Charles Bronson.  We look at two, more obscure movies, 1977's The Sentinel and 1984's Scream for Help.The Sentinel has a huge cast of top-notch talent, with the lead roles held by Chris Sarandon and Cristina Raines.  It tells the story of woman with a mysterious past who finds herself guided by unseen forces down a dark path in 1970's New York City.  The film is full of surprises, shocks, and squirmy moments galore. With a significant budget and a script based on a successful novel, it works on many levels and has an ending that is almost certain to spur conversation.Scream for Help is one of the most breathlessly paced films we've ever seen.  It starts with a bang and really doesn't let up until the final credits are rolling.  It is a story of a 17 year old girl played by Rachael Kelly that is confident her step-father is trying to kill her mother. It is of equal measure goofy and grim, light-hearted and brutally frank, silly and deadly serious.  The acting is decidely sub-par and the script ( by the occasionally brilliant Tom Holland ) rings true on occasion, but is far to hit and miss to really be considered "good".  Despite all these issues, the film is impossible to look away from and is almost guaranteed to entertain you. If you have the option, go for the uncut version which features a surprising amount of nudity and sex on screen, and, if you're checking the fuses, watch out for a puddle on the floor.Send us your thoughts on the show and recommendations for future episodes to [email protected] or [email protected]. You can also reach us on Facebook, Instagram, Letterboxd. YouTube.