The Astrologer (film)

The Astrologer
Theatrical release poster
Directed by James Glickenhaus
Produced by Mark Buntzman
Written by James Glickenhaus (uncredited)
Based on The Astrologer by John Cameron
Music by Brad Fiedel
Cinematography Francis A. Romero
Edited by Victor Zimet
Distributed by Republic Arts
Release date
 December 1975
Running time
 96 minutes
Country United States
Language English

The Astrologer (also known as Suicide Cult) is a 1975 American horror film directed by James Glickenhaus.[1][2]

Plot

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

Cast

Production

Glickenhaus adapted the screenplay from the 1972 novel The Astrologer by John Cameron.

"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.[3]

The music was composed by Brad Fiedel.[4]

Release

The film was initially released in December 1975 by Republic Arts. It was later re-released in theaters in 1978 by Interstar. It was released in Canada by Cinépix Film Properties (CFP) under the title Astrologer in 1979. It was retitled Suicide Cult and re-released in theaters by 21st Century Film Corporation in 1980. It was released on home video by Continental Video as Suicide Cult in 1986.

Reception

Glickenhaus convinced some drive-in theaters in the South to show it and he recalls, "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."[3]

References

  1. ↑ Gallagher, John A. (12 August 1989). "Film Directors on Directing". ABC-CLIO. Retrieved 12 August 2018 – via Google Books.
  2. ↑ Clark, Randall (17 December 2013). "At a Theater or Drive-in Near You: The History, Culture, and Politics of the American Exploitation Film". Routledge. Retrieved 12 August 2018 – via Google Books.
  3. 1 2 Chase, Chris. "AT THE MOVIES; Jennifer Leigh and her trip from X to R." Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  4. ↑ Hischak, Thomas S. (16 April 2015). "The Encyclopedia of Film Composers". Rowman & Littlefield. Retrieved 12 August 2018 – via Google Books.
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