The Asphyx

Nineteenth century , England , a mad doctor is studying death when he discovers the Asphyx , an obscure supernatural power , it is the key to immortality on the subject . Nice and enjoyable terror fim made in Hammer or Amicus style with a distinguished cast , creepy scenes and fine interpretation . This eerie movie deals with a man : Robert Stephens who attempts to trap the spirit of death but things go awry when he practices his experlments with his descendants : Arliss, Jane Lapotaire and adopted son , Robert Powell .

Scary picture with a promising notion in which a scientist discovers an aura that surrounds persons just before they die ; however , his irresponsability in unleashing the rare entity on the world brings a swarm of unforeseen consequences , ominous distresses , irreversible problems and grisly murders . There is an interesting as well as riveting glimpse into Victorian psychological research with engaging theories, though does take some incredible happenings , even by the the standards of this peculiar genre . Strong cast formed by good Brit actors such as Robert Stephens giving a theatrical delivery as a doctor delves deeper into his research finding extraordinary surprises , Jane Lapotaire as his daughter , Fiona Walker and Robert Powell .

It displays a weird but adequate score by Bill McGuffie . As well as an attractive production design by the great designer John Stoll . Appropriate and evocative cinematography by the prestigious Freddie Young who has a notorious career as cameraman such as Salomon and Queen Sabah, Ryan' s daughter, Lawrence Arabia , Doctor Zhivago , Lord Jim . This high-class terror /SciFi motion picture was compellingly directed by Peter Newbrook , being his only film . Newbrook had an important career in the camera and electric department , as a cinematographer and as a producer , including titles as Crucible of terror, Saturday night out , Press for time , That kind of girl, The green scarf , Green Helmet , 4 horsemen of Apocalypse , Anastasia , Farewell to arms , Deep blue sea , The Sandwich man , Vampires , among others . Rating : 7/10 , above average. Well worth seeing for the terror buffs . Essential and indispensable watching .

I was able to view this film in Pattonville Germany, in the theater on post. I was 13 or 14 years old at the time. It was a matinée and cost a whole thirty-five cents to see.

This movie is the standard I use to base any and all horror films on, it still gives me the shivers.

It has only been some 30 years ago but I remember the line of the witness when the movie opened when the bus?/truck screeches over the old man, MY GOD HE'S STILL ALIVE the guy says as the guinea pig runs across the screen to the left.

My memory of the asphyx being caught in the light, and the noise of the thing screeching, the man they were hanging was moving around and twitching on the end of the rope, still just freaks me out.

Life after death - or rather what happens at the moment when our soul leaves our body (if you believe we have a soul that is)? This high brow concept and the capturing of an essence felt a bit like the Hammer horror tropes. I was fortunate enough to buy the restored version of this. The DVD did show the difference between this version and the one previously released - it would be unfair to judge the movie based on that meddled version, which cropped and "Pan&Scan" too.

Anyway, if you are aware of the "classic" horror movies you will have a sense of what to expect. For other viewers it is important to keep in mind that there was a formula and a mood these movies followed. You may feel that they are annoying or boring or something else that is unpleasant to watch. But the art direction, the camera and the acting is spot on - or at least as intended (yes drama baby! You had to have it)

Avoiding death and what happens when we die have been recurring themes throughout all art forms since the dawning of time. Despite the fact that there are a lot of films that handle similar themes, The Asphyx stands out for it's original and intriguing exaction. The film hasn't gained itself the best reputation in the three decades since its release, and it was apparently ignored upon its introduction to the general public. This isn't surprising - The Asphyx takes elements from supernatural horror and there's a little bit of sci-fi involved, but selling this film couldn't have been easy as there's no way to pigeon hole it. The plot focuses on Hugo Cunningham - a man who discovers that when we die, what's called an 'Asphyx' appears. After conducting a few experiments, Hugo presupposes that if one were to capture this Asphyx, then that person would never be able to die. He then proceeds to test the procedure on himself, and after becoming immortal decides he wants his young assistant and daughter; who want to get married, to become immortal also…

The Asphyx is a British film set in Victorian times, and director Peter Newbrook does an excellent job of producing the period setting. The film was obviously made on a budget, and as such it doesn't exactly compete with some of the bigger budget films set around the same time; but still the director gets the point across. The special effects are a little hokey, but they work really well. The main standout where the effects are concerned are with the 'Asphyx' itself, and personally I'd much rather the effects shown here than the CGI rubbish we have nowadays. The acting is decent, with Robert Stephens being the main standout in the lead role, and receiving good support from Robert Powell. Jane Lapotaire is something of a weak link in my opinion as she's a little flat, but it's not too important. The film has a great premise, but in order for a premise to work, it needs a good plot too and this film certainly has that. The film is not predictable for most of its duration, and the drama between the central characters is always interesting enough to hold the audience's attention. The ending is both haunting and memorable, and overall; it has to be said that The Asphyx is a film that deserves more wide recognition!

I bought a copy of this thru eBay. It was the old VHS, untouched by digitization. I would recommend that one purchase the newer DVD. I have heard that the color and saturation is much improved.

As for Sir Robert's performance, and Mr. Powell's: Quite extraordinary. Even the effects are quite futurist for the date that this was filmed.

There is a bit of violence, involving two men and a guinea pig, so be aware of some disgust with relation to that. But by far, if you want to be enthralled by Sir Robert, and coo at Powell, you're in for a rare treat. I can't believe this one was out there for so long before I found it! Truly needs to be placed in the "Hall of Horror", since it is nearly on the level of the old Vincent Price works, like "Mask of Red Death" and "The Raven". Get it, and treasure it as one of Sir Robert's few performances still available.