"If it were in your power, would you sacrifice your wife, your children for immortality? This is the story of a man who did!" The lesson? You have to keep your priorities straight. Join your faithful Grue Crew - Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr - as they dive into the deep, dark hole where dwells The Asphyx.
Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 92 – The Asphyx (1972)
Synopsis:
English country squire Sir Hugo Cunningham searches for immortality by literally 'bottling up' the Spirit of the Dead, or Asphyx.
Director: Peter Newbrook Writers: Brian Comport (story by) Christina Beers, Laurence Beers Cinematographer: Freddie Young Featured Cast: Robert Stephens as Sir Hugo Cunningham Robert Powell as Giles Cunningham Jane Lapotaire as Christina Cunningham Alex Scott as Sir Edward Barrett Ralph Arliss as Clive Cunningham Fiona Walker as Anna Wheatley
The Decades of Horror 1970s Grue Crew unanimously expressed the following opinions regarding The Asphyx: 1) It’s based on a great premise; 2) Its reach exceeds its grasp; 3) The Asphyx is ripe … for a remake; 4) There has to be a better title! They had a bit of juvenile fun with that title. Chad couldn’t stop giggling while watching the movie and Jeff got caught up by it during the podcast.
The Asphyx is Peter Newbrook’s sole output as a director but Bill points out Newbrook’s experience as a camera operator on renowned films such as The Bridge On the River Kwai (1957) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962). In recalling the story, Jeff and Bill trade ridiculously complex and failure-prone methods devised to expose the Asphyx and Doc and Chad join in.
Your Grue Crew gives The Asphyx an enthusiastic recommendation. Despite some of the ridiculous and laughable choices made by the filmmakers, The Asphyx is an entertaining film with good acting from the four leads - Robert Stephens, Robert Powell, Jane Lapotaire, and the guinea pig - as well as excellent cinematography by Freddie Young. The Asphyx was available on Shudder when this episode was recorded but has since been taken down. It is currently available VOD on Amazon and as a Kino Lorber Blu ray.
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