‘Would you sacrifice your wife… your children for immortality?’
The Asphyx is a 1972 British sci-fi horror film about an English country squire searching for immortality by literally ‘bottling up’ the Spirit of the Dead, or Asphyx.
The movie was directed by Peter Newbrook (producer of Corruption; cinematographer of Crucible of Terror; The Black Torment) from a screenplay by Brian Comport (The Fiend; Mumsy, Nanny, Sonny & Girly), based on a story by Christina Beers and Laurence Beers.
The Glendale production stars Robert Stephens (The Shout), Robert Powell (Frankenstein (1984); The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1982); The Survivor; Harlequin; Asylum; Doomwatch TV series), Jane Lapotaire (Crescendo), Alex Scott, Ralph Arliss, Fiona Walker, Terry Scully, John Lawrence, David Grey, Tony Caunter and Paul Bacon.
Utilizing an experimental photographic device, a scientist (Robert Stephens) captures what appears to be the image of the Asphyx: the ancient Greek spirit of the dead.
With the help of his adopted son (Robert Powell), he conducts further experiments and conceives of a way to harness the Asphyx and thereby gain immortality. But, as every visionary scientist should know, defying the laws of the natural and spiritual world unleashes dreadful consequences…
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Trailer:
Free to watch on YouTube:
Blu-ray release:
In the UK, The Asphyx was released on Blu-ray on 11 June 2018 by Screenbound Pictures.
Buy Blu-ray: Amazon.co.uk
Filming locations:
London and Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England
Technical specs:
1 hour 39 minutes
Audio: Mono (Super Quadraphonic Sound)
Eastmancolor
Aspect Ratio: 2.35: 1 (Todd-AO 35)
Release:
The film is also known as Spirit of the Dead and The Horror of Death.
