Average customer rating:
- Intelligent Science Fiction Horror Film
- CLASSIC HORROR AT IT'S BEST!!!
- Nice Ironic British Horror Gem
- slow but intriguing
- An unforgettable treat.
|
The Asphyx
Starring:
Robert Stephens ,
Robert Powell ,
Jane Lapotaire ,
Alex Scott , and
Ralph Arliss
Director:
Peter Newbrook
Manufacturer: Ventura Marketing
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
 Ghosts
| Things That Go Bump
| Horror
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Lapotaire, Jane
| ( L )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Powell, Robert
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Stephens, Robert
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
( A )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
ASIN: 6305470146 |
Amazon.com
When The Asphyx was released in 1973, The Exorcist was about to change the landscape of horror forever, moving the genre away from subtlety and into the realm of graphic effects and makeup. That's one of the reasons why The Asphyx was a box-office flop, fondly remembered by a select few who never forgot this quirky little "thinking man's horror film" (as Variety called it), in which a 19th-century British philanthropist and amateur psychic researcher embarks on a fateful quest for immortality. Sir Hugo Cunningham (nicely played by Robert Stephens) has a morbid hobby of taking photographs of dying people, and this leads to his discovery of a nebulous spirit of the dead--known in mythology as the Asphyx--that appears (only visible on photographic plates) at the moment of death. Sir Hugo becomes obsessed with capturing his own Asphyx and thus ensuring that he cannot die, but of course this is an ill-fated ambition that puts Sir Hugo on a ruinous path to destruction and death.
With its talky, literate script, well-drawn characters, and fascinating themes, The Asphyx bears closer resemblance to the Hammer horror films that became passé in the early and mid-1970s. The chills are subtle but effective under the direction of Peter Newbrook, and the widescreen cinematography by Freddie Young (whose credits include Lawrence of Arabia) adds polish and elegance to the proceedings. Filled with foreboding atmosphere, this is an intelligently conceived horror film that relies more on story than shocks, although the screeching Asphyx is eerily haunting. Kudos to Allday Entertainment for producing this DVD--The Asphyx has been rescued from obscurity, painstakingly remastered in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio for discerning connoisseurs of high-class horror. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
Intelligent Science Fiction Horror Film.......2006-09-16
Here's a film whose focus preoccupies us all at points in our lives. Science Fiction, though regarded often as adventure or travel to exotic planets, concerns itself often with spirituality, about the very fundamentals of life and death.
Take the races of Star Trek whose spirituality is essential to them such as Bajorans or the Vulcans. Indeed, for Vulcans, the "katra" or "soul" can be preserved or even transferred from person to person as we see in "Star Trek III: The Search For Spock". While in the Star Wars universe, there's the "force" an energy manifestation which manipulates objects, causes damage or can be used for healing.
This 1973 British film has the atmospheric feel of a Hammer Horror film. Most of the characters in "The Asphyx" are obsessed with death, as it's all around them. Dying and its aftermath are deftly explored through photography and an invention a scientist has perfected. Before long, he's playing with powerful forces beyond his control and everyone he tries to help and each plan attempted simply goes awry. A more recent film, with a similar vibe is "Flatliners" - starring Julia Roberts.
So if you enjoy more serious or spiritual aspects of Science Fiction, give "The Asphyx" a try. It's definitely not a joyful thrill ride, but the questions it explores are those which we've all thought about. More darkly thrilling and at times even horrific than just a purely intellectual exercise, "The Asphyx" will definitely stay in your memory far after the credits roll.
CLASSIC HORROR AT IT'S BEST!!!.......2006-07-19
I RECOMMEND THIS TO ALL FANS OF CLASSIC HORROR MOVIES!!
GREAT ACTING AND A GREAT PREMISE!!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
Nice Ironic British Horror Gem.......2005-12-03
"The Asphyx" a/k/a "The Horror of Death" is one of the most original and yet most unheralded English horror films. Set in 1870's England, aristocrat Sir Hugo (Robert Stephens) accidentally photographs an entity (mythological name Asphyx) entering a person's body at their death. Sir Hugo theorizes that each person has their own Asphyx and that if the entity can be imprisoned outside the body, the person will be immortal. Guess what happens next.
From the physiological standpoint, the concept is not that different from the idea of vampires and zombies; with the same need to suspend belief to really enjoy things. Although like the implications of time travel, half the fun is speculating on the ramifications of the idea.
There is a pleasant and very haunting score and the story has a nice touch of irony as Sir Hugo's first experimental subject is his eventual downfall.
The real strength of this film is the production design. Considerable effort went into the meticulously constructed sets and there was much attention to detail in the various scientific apparatus and instruments. While the historical accuracy of these advanced devices is suspect, they are certainly no harder to accept than the basic premise. All looks great on the big screen and is probably fine on the letter boxed DVD, but the VHS tape is of marginal quality and the 4x3 aspect ratio does not do justice to the frame.
Few films from the era that did a better job of filling their frames than "The Asphyx" (credit to Academy award winning cinematographer Freddie Young), but this just magnifies the problems of the full-screen version. It appears that the 1989 Interglobal Home Video trimmed nine minutes from the film and was recorded at the LP speed, so you should avoid that one if possible.
slow but intriguing.......2000-06-14
though marred by its apparent desire to be intellectually stimulating (certain death for many horror films) The Asphyx is saved by an emotional performance from Robert Stephens as Sir Hugo Cunningham, a photographer who has discovered the secret of immortality in 1875. Stephens recites his hokey lines with conviction, and if it weren't for blunt editing, lapses in logic (notice the camera change positions when Sir Hugo watches a film of Clive's death), and its snotty british desire for respectability, this movie would surely have a prominent place in the pantheon of great 70's horror films. if you prefer Hammer to AIP than you just might enjoy this throwback to the early days of Quatermass and Baron Frankenstein, but if you like your horror with a lot of action and "sobaditsfunny"ness then the only thing here for you is probably the cheesy puppet used to portray the title creature. overall, an entertainingly adequate flawed cult classic.
An unforgettable treat........1999-09-28
A co-worker and I were just discussing unusual films last week, and I immediately thought of "The Asphyx", though no one else in the office had even heard of it. They're all younger than me so I guess it's excusable. I haven't seen this on the small screen yet, but did enjoy it during its initial release in 1972 on the big screen. I thought it to be thought provoking in the way of classic horror films, when the protagonist discovers (too late) that he shouldn't have been messing around with things like immortality. I've not seen or heard of it since then but I haven't forgotten it either, nor will I. A genuinely scary, gruesome movie with a moral comes along not too often. I highly recommend it and intend to buy it on DVD when it's released!
![The Asphyx [Region 2]](http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/21N7P3FKHJL.jpg)
Average customer rating:
- Intelligent Science Fiction Horror Film
- CLASSIC HORROR AT IT'S BEST!!!
- Nice Ironic British Horror Gem
- slow but intriguing
- An unforgettable treat.
|
The Asphyx [Region 2]
Starring:
Robert Stephens ,
Robert Powell ,
Jane Lapotaire ,
Alex Scott , and
Ralph Arliss
Director:
Peter Newbrook
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Lapotaire, Jane
| ( L )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Powell, Robert
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Stephens, Robert
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
( H )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
ASIN: B0001IMCZ2 |
Amazon.com
When The Asphyx was released in 1973, The Exorcist was about to change the landscape of horror forever, moving the genre away from subtlety and into the realm of graphic effects and makeup. That's one of the reasons why The Asphyx was a box-office flop, fondly remembered by a select few who never forgot this quirky little "thinking man's horror film" (as Variety called it), in which a 19th-century British philanthropist and amateur psychic researcher embarks on a fateful quest for immortality. Sir Hugo Cunningham (nicely played by Robert Stephens) has a morbid hobby of taking photographs of dying people, and this leads to his discovery of a nebulous spirit of the dead--known in mythology as the Asphyx--that appears (only visible on photographic plates) at the moment of death. Sir Hugo becomes obsessed with capturing his own Asphyx and thus ensuring that he cannot die, but of course this is an ill-fated ambition that puts Sir Hugo on a ruinous path to destruction and death.
With its talky, literate script, well-drawn characters, and fascinating themes, The Asphyx bears closer resemblance to the Hammer horror films that became passé in the early and mid-1970s. The chills are subtle but effective under the direction of Peter Newbrook, and the widescreen cinematography by Freddie Young (whose credits include Lawrence of Arabia) adds polish and elegance to the proceedings. Filled with foreboding atmosphere, this is an intelligently conceived horror film that relies more on story than shocks, although the screeching Asphyx is eerily haunting. Kudos to Allday Entertainment for producing this DVD--The Asphyx has been rescued from obscurity, painstakingly remastered in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio for discerning connoisseurs of high-class horror. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
Intelligent Science Fiction Horror Film.......2006-09-16
Here's a film whose focus preoccupies us all at points in our lives. Science Fiction, though regarded often as adventure or travel to exotic planets, concerns itself often with spirituality, about the very fundamentals of life and death.
Take the races of Star Trek whose spirituality is essential to them such as Bajorans or the Vulcans. Indeed, for Vulcans, the "katra" or "soul" can be preserved or even transferred from person to person as we see in "Star Trek III: The Search For Spock". While in the Star Wars universe, there's the "force" an energy manifestation which manipulates objects, causes damage or can be used for healing.
This 1973 British film has the atmospheric feel of a Hammer Horror film. Most of the characters in "The Asphyx" are obsessed with death, as it's all around them. Dying and its aftermath are deftly explored through photography and an invention a scientist has perfected. Before long, he's playing with powerful forces beyond his control and everyone he tries to help and each plan attempted simply goes awry. A more recent film, with a similar vibe is "Flatliners" - starring Julia Roberts.
So if you enjoy more serious or spiritual aspects of Science Fiction, give "The Asphyx" a try. It's definitely not a joyful thrill ride, but the questions it explores are those which we've all thought about. More darkly thrilling and at times even horrific than just a purely intellectual exercise, "The Asphyx" will definitely stay in your memory far after the credits roll.
CLASSIC HORROR AT IT'S BEST!!!.......2006-07-19
I RECOMMEND THIS TO ALL FANS OF CLASSIC HORROR MOVIES!!
GREAT ACTING AND A GREAT PREMISE!!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
Nice Ironic British Horror Gem.......2005-12-03
"The Asphyx" a/k/a "The Horror of Death" is one of the most original and yet most unheralded English horror films. Set in 1870's England, aristocrat Sir Hugo (Robert Stephens) accidentally photographs an entity (mythological name Asphyx) entering a person's body at their death. Sir Hugo theorizes that each person has their own Asphyx and that if the entity can be imprisoned outside the body, the person will be immortal. Guess what happens next.
From the physiological standpoint, the concept is not that different from the idea of vampires and zombies; with the same need to suspend belief to really enjoy things. Although like the implications of time travel, half the fun is speculating on the ramifications of the idea.
There is a pleasant and very haunting score and the story has a nice touch of irony as Sir Hugo's first experimental subject is his eventual downfall.
The real strength of this film is the production design. Considerable effort went into the meticulously constructed sets and there was much attention to detail in the various scientific apparatus and instruments. While the historical accuracy of these advanced devices is suspect, they are certainly no harder to accept than the basic premise. All looks great on the big screen and is probably fine on the letter boxed DVD, but the VHS tape is of marginal quality and the 4x3 aspect ratio does not do justice to the frame.
Few films from the era that did a better job of filling their frames than "The Asphyx" (credit to Academy award winning cinematographer Freddie Young), but this just magnifies the problems of the full-screen version. It appears that the 1989 Interglobal Home Video trimmed nine minutes from the film and was recorded at the LP speed, so you should avoid that one if possible.
slow but intriguing.......2000-06-14
though marred by its apparent desire to be intellectually stimulating (certain death for many horror films) The Asphyx is saved by an emotional performance from Robert Stephens as Sir Hugo Cunningham, a photographer who has discovered the secret of immortality in 1875. Stephens recites his hokey lines with conviction, and if it weren't for blunt editing, lapses in logic (notice the camera change positions when Sir Hugo watches a film of Clive's death), and its snotty british desire for respectability, this movie would surely have a prominent place in the pantheon of great 70's horror films. if you prefer Hammer to AIP than you just might enjoy this throwback to the early days of Quatermass and Baron Frankenstein, but if you like your horror with a lot of action and "sobaditsfunny"ness then the only thing here for you is probably the cheesy puppet used to portray the title creature. overall, an entertainingly adequate flawed cult classic.
An unforgettable treat........1999-09-28
A co-worker and I were just discussing unusual films last week, and I immediately thought of "The Asphyx", though no one else in the office had even heard of it. They're all younger than me so I guess it's excusable. I haven't seen this on the small screen yet, but did enjoy it during its initial release in 1972 on the big screen. I thought it to be thought provoking in the way of classic horror films, when the protagonist discovers (too late) that he shouldn't have been messing around with things like immortality. I've not seen or heard of it since then but I haven't forgotten it either, nor will I. A genuinely scary, gruesome movie with a moral comes along not too often. I highly recommend it and intend to buy it on DVD when it's released!
Product Description
Australia released, PAL/Region 4 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. Languages:
o English (Dolby Digital 2.0) Synopsis:
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. With a strong, twist-filled script (marred only slightly by occasional talky stretches), The Asphyx is an effective horror fantasy with interesting period ambience and an overwhelming sense of dread. Special Features:
o Interactive Menu
o Photo Gallery
o Scene Access
o Trailer(s)
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![The Asphyx [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.4 Import - Australia ]](http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/210G22N3HFL.jpg)
