The Asphyx (1972)
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67% of critics liked it
(6 reviews) -
43% of users liked it
(885 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
- Directed By
- Peter Newbrook
- Genres
- Horror, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy
PG,
- In Theaters
- Feb 1, 1973 Wide
- Studio
- Paragon Films Inc.
Critic Reviews
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Degenerates into formula and farce, with Stephens' theatrical delivery adding the mortal blow.
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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.
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Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Overall, this is a unique and memorable little chiller.
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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.
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, Film4
A daft but curiously appealing British effort with enough dark edges and inadvertent laughs to satisfy most horror junkies.
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Cast
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Ralph Arliss
as Clive Cunningham
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Jane Lapotaire
as Christina Cunningham
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Robert Powell
as Giles Cunningham
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Alex Scott
as President
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Robert Stephens
as Sir Hugo Cunningham
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Fiona Walker
as Anna Cunningham
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Paul Bacon
as 1st Member
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Tony Caunter
as Warden
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Terry Scully
as Pauper
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John Lawrence
as Mason
