Chemical Wedding (2008)

A shy, stuttering professor brings Aleister Crowley back to life.

Director:

Julian Doyle

Writers:

Bruce Dickinson, Julian Doyle

Stars:

Simon Callow, Kal Weber, Lucy Cudden

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Simon Callow	...	Professor Haddo / Aleister Crowley
Kal Weber	...	Joshua Mathers
Lucy Cudden	...	Lia Robinson
Jud Charlton	...	Victor Nuberg
Paul McDowell	...	Symonds
John Shrapnel	...	Crowley
Terence Bayler	...	Professor Brent (as Terrence Bayler)
Richard Franklin	...	Dean of Trinity University
Mike Shannon	...	Alex
Helen Millar	...	Rose
Geoffrey Breton	...	Young Symonds (as Geoff Breton)
Sean Rea	...	Young Alex
Thomas Nelstrop	...	Jones
Robert Ashby	...	Chaplain Marshall
Esmé Bianco	...	Mavis

Storyline

In 1947, noted Neo-Pagan Aleister Crowley dies. In Cambridge, 43 years later, with the help of a computer, Crowley's spirit takes over the body of Haddo, a mild-mannered, stuttering don. Over four days, as Crowley prepares for an occult extravaganza, bodies pile up, Crowley's elect engage in rites of passage, and Lia, a red-headed campus reporter, sniffs out a story that puts her in grave danger. Mathers, a scientist recently arrived from Cal Tech, may hold the key to her destiny.

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Plot Keywords:

voyeurism | voyeur | blonde | forced to strip | female removes her clothes | 

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The part of Professor Brent was offered to a number of actors before Terence Bayler accepted.

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Goofs

When Haddo/Crowley holds Victor's photo of the woman to the flame to create the burn mark, the burn mark appears twice.

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Quotes

Haddo: Why do you not take my laws seriously?
Victor Nuberg: YOUR laws?
Haddo: "Do what thou wilt. Love is the law, love under will."
Victor Nuberg: Who is it you think you are?
Haddo: Victor, who is it you think I am?
Victor Nuberg: You are Oliver Haddo. H-A-D-D-O, Haddo.
Haddo: Oh, Victor, would you deny me thrice before the cock grows?

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Crazy Credits

[statement before end credits] On the seventh day the old king gave me a golden medal, bearing on one side the words ART IS THE PRIESTESS OF NATURE and on the other NATURE IS THE DAUGHTER OF TIME.

• the Chymical Wedding (1616)

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Soundtracks

Man of Sorrows
Written by Bruce Dickinson
Performed by Bruce Dickinson

User Reviews

Crowley (2008) (AKA Chemical Wedding)

AKA: Chemical Wedding

Rating: 3 out of 5

Genre: Horror, Science Fiction, Occult

Director: Julian Doyle

Stars: Robert Ashby, Jared Ashe, Terence Bayler, Antonia Beamish, Esmé Bianco, Geoff Breton, Simon Callow, Jud Charlton, Lucy Cudden, Lily Dumont, Richard Franklin

Synopsis: At an English academy the most powerful computer in the world is used to perform time sensitive experiments. When an experiment goes awry and the spirit of Aleister Crowley inhabits a professor participating in the experiment.

Thoughts: I could explain the plot but I can't really do it justice. The detailed script written by the director and Bruce Dickinson (from the metal legends Iron Maiden) is pretty good with you enough twisted Crowley debauchery to keep you engaged. The first thirty or so minutes are a bit slow so hang in. As you can guess a horror film that borrows from the depraved life of the "Wickedest Man in the World" gives you such perverted pleasures as orgies and canning. The script does get a bit bogged down in the final act when its more lofty, SciFi conventions kick in but hey it delivers the weird goods.

In Conclusion: Yup we get treated to Iron Maiden and Dickinson tunes throughout the film. Not enough but that's just me. Say didn't the mighty Bruce become a born-again Christian? An odd choice and subject for a horror movie I believe. 

Details

Official Sites:

Offical site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

March 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Crowley

Filming Locations:

Bushey Campus, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP2,500,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$9,439

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bill and Ben Productions, Focus Films, Entertainment Motion Pictures (E-MOTION)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1