The Astrologer (1975 horror film)

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]

Not to be confused with The Astrologer (1976 film).
The Astrologer
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJames Glickenhaus (as Jim Glickenhaus)
Written byJames Glickenhaus (uncredited)
Based onThe Astrologer by John Cameron
Produced byMark Buntzman
StarringBob Byrd
Mark Buntzman
James Glickenhaus
CinematographyFrancis A. Romero
Edited byVictor Zimet
Music byBrad Fiedel
Distributed byRepublic Arts
Release date
December 1975
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$65,000[1]

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

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.[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]

References
  1. Brian Albright (October 19, 2012). Regional Horror Films, 1958-1990: A State-by-State Guide with Interviews. McFarland. p. 243. ISBN 978-0-7864-7227-7.
  2. Gallagher, John A. (12 August 1989). Film Directors on Directing. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780275932725. Retrieved 12 August 2018 – via Google Books.
  3. Clark, Randall (17 December 2013). At a Theater or Drive-in Near You: The History, Culture, and Politics of the American Exploitation Film. Routledge. ISBN 9781317929093. Retrieved 12 August 2018 – via Google Books.
  4. Higson, Paul (1990). "An Interview with James Glickenhaus". Fantasynopsis. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  5. "The Deuce Notebook: The United States of Glickenhaus". MUBI. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  6. Chase, Chris. "AT THE MOVIES; Jennifer Leigh and her trip from X to R." The New York Times. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  7. Thomas S. Hischak (April 16, 2015). The Encyclopedia of Film Composers. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 233. ISBN 978-1-4422-4550-1.
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