The Astrologer | |
---|---|
Directed by | James Glickenhaus (as Jim Glickenhaus) |
Written by | James Glickenhaus (uncredited) |
Based on | The Astrologer by John Cameron |
Produced by | Mark Buntzman |
Starring |
Bob Byrd Mark Buntzman James Glickenhaus |
Cinematography | Francis A. Romero |
Edited by | Victor Zimet |
Music by | Brad Fiedel |
Distributed by | Republic Arts |
Release date |
|
Running time | 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]
A scientist who is investigating reports of the Second Coming of Christ ends up in conflict with a Satan-worshipping suicide cult.
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]
With no independent distributors interested in acquiring the film, Glickenhaus convinced some drive-in theaters in the South to screen it. [5] 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]
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]
The Astrologer | |
---|---|
Directed by | James Glickenhaus (as Jim Glickenhaus) |
Written by | James Glickenhaus (uncredited) |
Based on | The Astrologer by John Cameron |
Produced by | Mark Buntzman |
Starring |
Bob Byrd Mark Buntzman James Glickenhaus |
Cinematography | Francis A. Romero |
Edited by | Victor Zimet |
Music by | Brad Fiedel |
Distributed by | Republic Arts |
Release date |
|
Running time | 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]
A scientist who is investigating reports of the Second Coming of Christ ends up in conflict with a Satan-worshipping suicide cult.
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]
With no independent distributors interested in acquiring the film, Glickenhaus convinced some drive-in theaters in the South to screen it. [5] 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]
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]