The Asphyx (1972)

_**Original, intelligent Hammer-esque horror from the early 70s**_ In 1875, a squire in England and his adopted son (Robert Stephens & Robert Powell) find a possible means of acquiring immortality by trapping the spirit of death, aka the mythological ‘asphyx’ or what we would call the Grim Reaper. Unfortunately, when people play God unforeseen negative things tend to happen. "The Asphyx" (1972) is thinking man’s Brit horror in the vein of "The Revenge of Frankenstein" (1958), "Frankenstein Created Woman" (1967) and "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed "(1969), as well as the soon-to-come “The Creeping Flesh”(1973). It’s the most obscure of these films because it’s arguably the least of ’em, but it does feature one of the most imaginative concepts. The special effects concerning the captured asphyx are effective and hold up. Jane Lapotaire as Christina is a unique choice for the lead female. Fiona Walker is also on hand. Look closely at Robert Powell and you might remember him in the iconic role of “Jesus of Nazareth” from 1977. The movie runs 1 hour, 23 minutes, but there is a longer U. S. version with about 12 extra minutes, which is inferior because it includes grainy footage from an SD print. The shorter version is the one to go with because the extra material bogs it down IMHO. The flick was shot at Shepperton Studios, just southwest of London. GRADE: B-

"Sir Hugo" (Robert Stephens) is a much respected scientist in Victorian Britain fascinated by motion pictures. Whilst filming his friends punting on the river; they have a calamitous accident and die. What shows up on his photography afterwards intrigues him - it seems as though a mysterious form is taking over their dead bodies. Could this be the "The Asphyx" of ancient Greek myth? He and his son (Robert Powell) decide to try and investigate further with the aim of capturing one in the hope of potentially achieving immortality. It's well put together, the story and script are solid and the lead performances with Jane Lapotaire as "Christina" are quite entertaining to watch. I found it a wee bit long, but give it a go.