Synopsis: A gentleman photographer in Victorian England discovers the specter of Death while photographing his dying subjects. Soon after he searches for immortality by creating a device to capture the Asphyx (Spirit of the Dead).
Continuing on our path down British horror, tonight we encounter The Asphyx. To be honest, before last night’s post, I never really delved into horror from our friends across the pond. Aside from the classic Hammer films, you could say British horror is kind of my blind spot. So far, the first two entries have been a good primer. Horror from the UK feels a little more classy, more refined. It doesn’t rely as much on the buckets of blood and gore or the cheap jump scares that its American contemporaries of the same era. It’s kind of refreshing.
Sir Hugo Cunningham (Robert Stephens) is a philanthropic scientist in Victorian England that specializes in the study of psychic phenomenon. During the recent experiments he and his colleagues have been conducting, they’ve made a discovery. At the moment of death, a strange smudge appears on film hovering around the deceased. With this evidence the parapsychological society concludes that they’ve captured the soul escaping the body. But Cunningham isn’t convinced that’s really what they’re seeing.
Cunningham’s family gathers at his home to celebrate his son’s engagement. While recording the moment with a contraption he’s invented that turns a series of photos into a movie, he inadvertently captures his son and fiance tragically dying in a boating accident. When viewing the film later, he notices a blur moving toward his son before the moment of impact. He concludes that this blur is the “Asphyx” talked about in Greek mythology. One’s personal Grim Reaper that arrives at their moment of death.
He’s later called to capture a public execution on film. While the hanging is taking place, the clouds begin to darken the sky. He ends up utilizing a spotlight he created using phosphorus and a water drip. Upon viewing the film he sees that the condemned man’s Asphyx was briefly suspended in the eerie blue glow of his light. Cunningham concludes that by using a combination of his phosphorus spotlight and water he can immobilize the Asphyx. So he theorizes that by threatening a subject with imminent death, he can summon the spirit and trap it. Basically locking the Asphyx away and rendering that person immortal.
If you haven’t guessed it yet, the basic building blocks of The Asphyx’s plot is pretty much the basis of Ghostbusters. The light stream to disable spirits, the traps…it’s what proton packs and ghost traps evolved from. I honestly didn’t know that going into this but after watching, I’m pretty sure I just saw Victorian Era Ghostbusters.
Yes, The Asphyx is fairly formulaic but has a promising premise. A trope that would be adapted and retold numerous times in the coming decades. It stars some serious British thespians that deliver a bit of class to an elementary script. Saving it from falling into utter silliness. A neat little cult film told in a cyclical manner. Not terribly good or bad, just average. From the cold opening to the freeze frame ending. Nice and tidy.
I’m sure you can find it streaming on most platforms but I caught this one on Tubi for this viewing.
So grab your popcorn, kill the lights and join me again tomorrow as we continue our journey on this strange little trip down the 31 Days of Horror rabbit hole. See you soon…
