The Asphyx (1972)

67% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
40% of users liked it
(857 ratings)

A well-mounted period horror tale, The Asphyx (known also as Spirit of the Dead) focuses on the scientific endeavors of Robert Stephens, whose revolutionary work in the burgeoning field of photography leads him to the remarkable discovery of the title creature -- a soul-stealing demon known to Greek… More A well-mounted period horror tale, The Asphyx (known also as Spirit of the Dead) focuses on the scientific endeavors of Robert Stephens, whose revolutionary work in the burgeoning field of photography leads him to the remarkable discovery of the title creature -- a soul-stealing demon known to Greek myth which appears at the moment of death to carry the soul away from the body and into the netherworld. By using special lighting techniques, he is able to detect the demon when it appears to steal the soul of a guinea pig, and he manages to capture it in a sealed capsule -- thus rendering the animal immortal. Realizing that the act of imprisoning his own asphyx will grant him eternal life, Stephens starts re-creating his experiment with human subjects. As this is a horror film, his new effort doesn't turn out quite as planned. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Peter Newbrook
Genres: Horror, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Feb 1, 1973 Wide
On DVD: Mar 2, 1998
Studio: Paragon Films Inc.

Critic Reviews

Budd Wilkins, Slant Magazine
Take a picture, why don't you? The Asphyx shrieks its way onto a satisfying, if slender, Blu-ray package from Kino Lorber.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Overall, this is a unique and memorable little chiller.
Ian Berriman, SFX Magazine
What stops the film from sliding into irredeemable silliness is the performance of Robert Stephens, one of those dependable British thesps you can always rely upon to pull out the stops.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Degenerates into formula and farce, with Stephens' theatrical delivery adding the mortal blow.
, Film4
A daft but curiously appealing British effort with enough dark edges and inadvertent laughs to satisfy most horror junkies.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Dr Blood

It's not very scary but "The Asphyx" is very entertaining in an E.C. comic books kind of way. It reminded me a lot of one of the better stories from the Amicus anthologies but is, of course, considerably longer. In many ways it is a bit too long and some of the dialogue… More
It's not very scary but "The Asphyx" is very entertaining in an E.C. comic books kind of way. It reminded me a lot of one of the better stories from the Amicus anthologies but is, of course, considerably longer. In many ways it is a bit too long and some of the dialogue is slightly annoying but everything is well filmed. The big similarity between the ending of this and "The Green Mile" is probably not accidental as I'm sure Stephen King has seen this too.
Lafe F

Cool movie where a group of scientists in Victorian England invent a machine which can capture the living spirits which escapes from people when they die. Fascinating concept, which looks interesting on film. The "Asphyx" creatures don't like being bottled up, and… More
Cool movie where a group of scientists in Victorian England invent a machine which can capture the living spirits which escapes from people when they die. Fascinating concept, which looks interesting on film. The "Asphyx" creatures don't like being bottled up, and eventually create havoc. It's a great little movie done in a Hammer Horror style.
Anthony V

Unrated British horror film.