The Asphyx (1972)

In the heart of the Victorian era, a brilliant scientist named Hugo stands out, earning the admiration of his colleagues, friends, and family. Yet, this esteem masks an emerging obsession gnawing at Hugo's mind. He is haunted by a chilling question: what is the eerie apparition appearing in the photographs of his dying subjects? Hugo's curiosity propels him to carry his latest invention, a motion picture camera, to a family boating party. The joyful gathering spirals into a catastrophe when Hugo inadvertently films the tragic drowning of his beloved wife and son. As he replays the film, the spectral presence resurfaces, darting towards his son before vanishing inside the lifeless body. This chilling revelation leads Hugo to wonder if he's stumbled upon the Asphyx, the agonized spirit of the dead from Greek mythology, said to seek respite by claiming human bodies. Hugo is consumed by the quest to capture this spirit, convinced it could hold the key to immortality. His obsession tumbles into the macabre as he manages to ensnare his own Asphyx. But when he attempts to experiment on his daughter, the consequences are fatal. Shattered by the loss, her fiancé and Hugo's assistant end their own life, leaving Hugo desperate for death's embrace. In his tormented state, Hugo attempts to liberate his Asphyx, hoping to join his family in death. But the cipher code to the safe holding the spirit eludes him, sealing his fate for an eternal life. The Asphyx explores the terrifying consequences of Hugo's relentless pursuit for knowledge, culminating in a haunting narrative of love, loss, and the chilling quest for immortality.

The Asphyx is a fantasy movie featuring Robert Powell and directed by Peter Newbrook.

The Asphyx is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.

It is also possible to buy The Asphyx on Amazon Video and Kino Now.