The Asphyx Gives off the Smell of Decay

The Asphyx (1973)

The Asphyx is quite possibly the slowest, least action packed horror film ever made. It concerns the Cunningham family(not Happy Days), headed by Robert Stephens as Sir Hugo. He discovers at the moment of death that an Asphyx or death spirit appears, and if you trap this, then the person becomes immortal. The concept is actually an intriguing one, and it’s to the film’s benefit that it does at least lead to several philosophical debates and a few great moments concerning beheaded and hung bodies that really should be allowed to die. The fate of his daughter in particular, actually seems worse the more you think about it, without having to witness it. Unfortunately, the film is as static as a play with all attempts to open it out a failure, the script interminably talky and the performances hilariously intense. Robert Powell(as adopted son Giles) and Stephens, pretty much holding up the film themselves, try their best but the former seems in a perpetual sulk, while the latter never seems to truly get a grip on whether his character is a total megalomaniac or flawed humanitarian. It doesn’t help that the audience finds it very hard to keep a straight face between the juxtaposition of the tragic obsession of the main characters and how seriously they are taking it, and the almost slapstick accidental deaths of the rest of the cast. Once Hugo goes from simply observing these to mistakenly causing the deaths of all those he is trying to immortalize, we start veering way too close to spoof territory for comfort. Indeed, in a strange way, this has a lot of similarities with the Omen and Final Destination series that proved so popular later, which also trod thin lines between frightening and ridiculous deaths. There are some interesting facets present though, apart from the main idea that leaves many ideas tantalizingly daggling-does the Asphyx have sentient intelligence? Can it be tricked? etc, the relationship between Powell and Stephen’s is unusually shaded for any type of film. In a typical horror movie, Powell would be the hero, and he does indeed voice apprehensions of what they are doing/tries to talk reason into Stephens, while Stephens is basically in the mad scientist role. However, as the film proceeds, Powell’s chip on his shoulder about being adopted seems to tip over into outright emotional revenge as he blames Stephen’s for pretty much everything that happens, takes no responsibility himself and ends up escaping consequences while also cursing Stephen’s by purposely ignoring their pledge. Stephens on the other hand, while he does get gripped with obsessions of his work, is always trying to do it for the benefit of others, has a very good motivation with the death of his wife and son, and after his daughter’s accidental death, does stop and want to repent. If anything, he is more a tragical figure, than the villain Powell paints him as. There are many shades of gray to both characters, but unfortunately, such is the film’s stodginess that we are never sure if this was intentional or not, it comes across as more just muddled.
So apart from a few refreshing moments, even the most dedicated horror fan will no doubt find The Asphyx a slow slog uphill for precious little reward.
6/10