The Alchemist Ending Explained, The Movie Plot and More
by Ushapriyanga
Updated Apr 20, 2023
The Alchemist info
The Alchemist is a horror movie from 1981 that tells the story of a man seeking revenge against an evil magician who cursed him. The film was directed by Charles Band, who used the name James Amante, and features Robert Ginty, Lucinda Dooling, and John Sanderford in the lead roles.
The movie follows the journey of a young waitress named Lenora, who finds herself driving down a California highway with a hitchhiker named Cam. Lenora is in a trance-like state and is not aware of where she is going. They eventually arrive at a gravesite in the woods and meet Aaron, an alchemist who is surprised to see them. Aaron believes that Lenora is the reincarnation of his wife, who was killed almost a century ago.
The Alchemist Ending Explained
The conclusion of The Alchemist seems to bring Santiago's journey full circle as he returns to where he began, under the sycamore tree, years after setting out on his quest. However, the final line of the novel, where Santiago declares his intention to reunite with Fatima, indicates that his wanderlust has not yet been quenched. The book's ending is both satisfyingly complete and yet open to interpretation, as we can assume that Santiago will continue pursuing his Personal Legend armed with all the knowledge he has gained. This mirrors the story of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, who discovers that her means of returning home were with her all along, but still embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
The Alchemist Movie Where To Watch?
You can either buy or rent The Alchemist on Amazon Instant Video. The movie can also be streamed for free on Tubi. Although The Alchemist was produced in 1981, it was only released in 1984 in Norway on video, and in the United States on May 31, 1985. The original director had filmed for 2-3 days before being replaced by Band. On January 7, 2008, Video International released the movie on DVD for the first time.
In this story, a young waitress unexpectedly finds herself driving down a California highway with no clear destination in mind. Cam, the hitchhiker she picked up, must endure her sleepy and erratic driving. Their journey takes them to a gravesite in the woods, where they encounter Aaron, an alchemist who is just as surprised as they are. Aaron believes that Lenora may be the reincarnation of his wife, who was killed almost a century ago.
The Alchemist Cast
Idris Elba
Idrissa Akuna Elba OBE is an actor and DJ from England. He attended the National Youth Music Theatre in London and is recognized for his roles in various productions such as Stringer Bell in the HBO series The Wire, DCI John Luther in the BBC One series Luther, and Nelson Mandela in the biographical film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
Penélope Cruz
Penélope Cruz Sánchez, a Spanish actress, is renowned for her performances in movies of diverse genres, particularly those in Spanish. She has received numerous awards and honors, including an Academy Award.
At 15 years old, Penélope Cruz Sánchez was signed by an agent and began her acting career on television at 16. Her debut in feature films was in Jamón Jamón (1992), after which she went on to star in Belle Époque (1992), Open Your Eyes (1997), Don Juan (1998), The Hi-Lo Country (1999), The Girl of Your Dreams (2000), and Woman on Top (2000).
Cruz is notably recognized for her frequent collaborations with Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar, such as in Live Flesh (1997), All About My Mother (1999), Volver (2006), Broken Embraces (2009), I'm So Excited! (2013), Pain and Glory (2019), and Parallel Mothers (2021). Additionally, she is known for her work with director Woody Allen in Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) and To Rome with Love (2012).
The Alchemist Movie Plot
In a supernatural horror film set in the 19th century, an alchemist curses a glassmaker (Robert Ginty) to live as a beast and commit acts of violence forever. However, the film received negative reviews from critics. VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever gave the film its lowest rating, WOOF!, and described it as "painfully routine".
Reviewer Richard Scheib on Moria.co criticized the slow-paced direction, ineffective special effects, and awarded the film only half a star out of five. Variety called it a "dull, old-fashioned (with gore added) supernatural horror film". Time Out criticized the film's lack of energy and called it a "spectacularly low-energy multi-pastiche".
Despite these criticisms, the film's score, composed by Richard Band, received some praise. The Encyclopedia of Film Composers described it as "satisfying" and praised the "elegant main theme", while Contemporary North American Film Directors: A Wallflower Critical Guide noted that the score was better than the film required or deserved.
The Alchemist Ending Explained - FAQs
The film is a supernatural horror set in the 19th century where an alchemist curses a glassmaker to live as a beast and commit acts of violence forever.
Robert Ginty stars as the glassmaker
Critics gave the film negative reviews. VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever gave it its lowest rating, WOOF!, while Moria.co awarded the film half a star out of five. Variety called it "dull" and Time Out criticized its lack of energy
Critics criticized the film's slow-paced direction, ineffective special effects, and routine plot.