The Astrologer (1975 horror film) explained

The Astrologer (1975 horror film) should not be confused with The Astrologer (1976 film).

The Astrologer
Director:James Glickenhaus (as Jim Glickenhaus)
Based On:The Astrologer by John Cameron
Starring:Bob Byrd
Mark Buntzman
James Glickenhaus
Music:Brad Fiedel
Cinematography:Francis A. Romero
Editing:Victor Zimet
Producer:Mark Buntzman
Distributor:Republic Arts
Runtime:96 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English
Budget:$65,000[1]

The Astrologer (also known as Suicide Cult) is a 1975 American horror film directed by James Glickenhaus and starring Bob Byrd, Mark Buntzman, and James Glickenhaus.[2] [3]

Premise

A scientist who is investigating reports of the Second Coming of Christ ends up in conflict with a Satan-worshipping suicide cult.

Cast

Production

The film was based on the book The Astrologer written by John Cameron, James Glickenhaus's future father-in-law.[4] Glickenhaus made a deal with Cameron for the book, wrote the screenplay.[4]

Glickenhaus says that he made the movie for about $20,000.[5] "I'd inherited some money," Glickenhaus told The New York Times, "and I took all of it and lost it making a movie called 'The Astrologer.' I'd been to film school, but film school was oriented more toward the avant-garde in those days, and I didn't really know what a master was or a cutaway or a closeup. And I had great trouble conveying ideas, except in dialogue. So 'The Astrologer,' which was about 79 minutes long, was probably 60 minutes of dialogue. I mean, it was interminable. I didn't think it was interminable then. I thought it was great and interesting and fascinating to listen to." The film took him two years to produce from start to finish.[6]

The film's soundtrack was composed by Brad Fiedel, in his debut.[7]

Release

With no independent distributors interested in acquiring the film, Glickenhaus convinced some drive-in theaters in the South to screen it. He later recalled, "Even though it was a terrible movie, people didn't absolutely hate it. But I realized by watching them that the only parts they liked were the parts with action."[6] Glickenhaus deciding the overabundance of dialogue in The Astrologer compared to the level of action was the cause of its failure would inspire him to write The Exterminator[4] 21st Century Film Corporation eventually bought the rights to The Astrologer believing they could make it work and re-titled it The Suicide Cult in an effort to capitalize on the Jonestown massacre.[4]

Reception

The film was called an ”ultra obscure and undeniably fascinating thriller".[8] Another commentator found, ’’The irony, however, is that this debut effort by James Glickenhaus is neither a horror or science fiction film: its a pure Christploitation, aka Godploitation, romp...”[9]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Brian Albright. Regional Horror Films, 1958-1990: A State-by-State Guide with Interviews. October 19, 2012. McFarland. 978-0-7864-7227-7. 243.
  2. Book: Gallagher, John A.. Film Directors on Directing. 12 August 1989. ABC-CLIO. 9780275932725. 12 August 2018. Google Books.
  3. Book: Clark, Randall. At a Theater or Drive-in Near You: The History, Culture, and Politics of the American Exploitation Film. 17 December 2013. Routledge. 9781317929093. 12 August 2018. Google Books.
  4. Higson. Paul. 1990 . An Interview with James Glickenhaus. Fantasynopsis. June 23, 2023.
  5. Web site: The Deuce Notebook: The United States of Glickenhaus . 2022-10-26 . MUBI . 22 February 2022 . en.
  6. News: AT THE MOVIES; Jennifer Leigh and her trip from X to R.. Chris. Chase. The New York Times . 3 September 1982 . 12 August 2018.
  7. Book: Thomas S. Hischak. The Encyclopedia of Film Composers. April 16, 2015. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. 978-1-4422-4550-1. 233.
  8. Web site: The Astrologer [Blu-ray] ]. 2023-12-25 . Severin Films . en.
  9. Web site: Francis . R. D. . 2021-12-04 . Suicide Cult, aka The Astrologer (1975) . 2023-12-25 . B&S About Movies . en.