Experiments

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Movie
German title Experiments
Original title The Asphyx, alternative titles: The Horror of Death, Spirit of the Dead
Country of production UK
original language English
Publishing year 1972
length 99 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Peter Newbrook
script Christina Beers
Laurence Beers
Brian Comport
production John Brittany
Maxine Julius
music Bill McGuffie
camera Freddie Young
cut Maxine Julius
occupation

Experiments (Original title: The Asphyx ) is a British horror film classic from 1972 . It is also known to the public under the alternative title Challenge . First published in Germany on video in May 1988

action

London in the present

A police patrol car arrives at the scene of a terrible traffic accident. Two cars collided head-on. The drivers of the two vehicles have flown through the windshields and lie motionless on the hoods of their vehicles. One of the two officers from the patrol car rushes back to the vehicle to call the ambulance. The other officer looks after the third victim of the traffic accident. A man lies motionless on the road under the two vehicles. The police officer takes the legs and wants to pull the supposedly dead man out from under the vehicles. Suddenly the man groans audibly. Startled, the officer lifts his head and says: “That doesn't exist. The man is still alive! "

London in the Victorian Age

Sir Hugo Cunningham is a wealthy country nobleman with a great thirst for knowledge. However, he is also a staunch philanthropist and is therefore highly regarded by society. Sir Hugo is widowed and has three grown children. There are his daughter Christina and his son Clive from his marriage to his first wife. The third member is Giles, Sir Hugo's adopted son. He took Giles from the Beet House, a "foundling home". However, Sir Hugo loves the young man as much as his biological children. In general, the no longer very young nobleman currently has every reason to be happy. For some time he has had a close acquaintance with Lady Emma, ​​a highly respected lady from the best family and of the best reputation. In the meantime, the acquaintance has turned into sincere, deep love. Sir Hugo would therefore like to propose marriage to Lady Emma, ​​which she accepts to his great joy. That evening, however, he has to leave her alone shortly afterwards. Because he is invited to a meeting of his club. The members of this club, all respected gentlemen of society, are interested in all kinds of new, sometimes obscure sciences. Sir Hugo explains to his fiancée that he and his colleagues take pictures of the dead. Specifically, these are people who are dying. The photos are taken at the exact moment when death occurs. And a very interesting discovery is made: on all three photos that Sir Hugo and the President of the Society show their colleagues, there is a strange black spot. It cannot possibly be a technical problem. Because all cameras and the conditions under which the photos were taken were carefully checked. So Sir Hugo and the President finally come to a surprising result: The stain must be a recording of the human soul. More precisely, the soul of the deceased was photographed at the moment of exiting their bodies. This amazes the assembled auditorium. Clive, who assisted his father in the lecture, cannot really believe that at first. But Sir Hugo is convinced of his theory. However, he has to discard them soon afterwards. The reason is a terrible accident that happened on the Cunningham estate. Clive and Emma, ​​Sir Hugo's fiancee, are killed in a boat accident.

Sir Hugo discovers the stain again while looking through the footage taken that day. But he's not moving away from his son, as he thought in the photos, but TOWARDS HIS SON CLIVE when he hits the low-hanging branch with his head. Then the nobleman realizes that they are dealing with the asphyx, the death spirit assigned to every human being from birth. This spirit lives in pain and agony until it can lead the soul of the deceased into eternity. The next day Sir Hugo receives a visit from Sir Edward, the president of his club. This brings shocking news: the responsible judge has ordered a public execution again after many years. He justifies this with the steadily increasing crime rate. The two gentlemen agree that they want to firmly oppose the death penalty. Sir Edward therefore asks Sir Hugo to film the execution. The philanthropic nobleman also shows up on time and with all his gear. The prisoner is led from the prison to the gallows. His arms and legs are tied up. A dark hood is pulled over his head and the hangman's noose is placed around his neck. Sir Hugo films all of this with his camera, also turning on his light amplifier. Something unexpected happens: A ghastly looking, ghostly being can be seen in the blinding blue light beam. It tries desperately to get to the death row inmate, but apparently fails to do so. The being answers this with terrible cries of pain. All spectators, including Sir Edward, appalled for the immediate stop of the execution. But the guards have already pulled the lever that opens the door at the feet of the delinquent. The man falls in, but does not die. The hangman's noose was supposed to be strangling him now. But he dangles with his tied feet and fights for his life. Prison men are dragging him down. But that doesn't help at first either. Only when Sir Hugo switches off the light amplifier does the ghost disappear and the delinquent dies. During the night, however, the nobleman sneaks back to the execution site to take a picture of the hanged man. This photo, as well as a picture taken of Clive two weeks after his death, confirm Sir Hugo's assumption.

Apparently the asphyx appears only for a brief moment to fetch the soul of the deceased. Then he disappears again. Now he wants to know exactly: And for this purpose Sir Hugo has Giles get a guinea pig. This lives in the laboratory for three days without being given any food. Of course, it complains accordingly. But Sir Hugo already knows what he's doing. Because today there is food - poisonous food. Shortly afterwards, the guinea pig collapses with death convulsions. Giles and his adoptive father immediately turn on two light amplifiers. One is the device now attached to the ceiling, which was also used to record the execution. The other is attached to a coffin-like container into which it emits its blue light beam. The two men finally succeed in catching the asphyx of the guinea pig. That means: this animal is not only alive. There is now nothing left to kill it with either. Unless you release your asphyx again. Spurred on by this success, the two scientists decide to repeat their experiment with a human asphyx. So they drive to the Beet House, the “home of foundlings” from which Sir Hugo has already brought Giles to him. There they find a seriously ill young man who is terribly tormented by the guard. Sir Hugo tells the overseer that he will take the young man with him. Since he is a benefactor of the house, he is not refused this. So the man will be sitting in the laboratory, freshly bathed and dressed, and eating a delicious meal. Lady Christina Cunningham, Sir Hugo's daughter, however, wonders why the man is here. And where does he come from anyway. Giles is not allowed to answer the former. But he can tell her the latter. Giles and Christina love each other and want to get married. But the young man tells his loved one that he too came from the Beethouse. He had been found on the street as a baby and taken there. So he wouldn't be a suitable husband for her. But Christina doesn't want to hear that at all. Giles' origins never interested in this house. He was like a brother to her and Clive in childhood. And now he's the man she loves and with whom she would like to grow old. Giles is very happy about that. Unfortunately, he and his adoptive father have to tell their guest that the doctor has diagnosed him with spinal cord tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis has already spread to the lungs. That is, the man will die. He gives in to his fate, thanks for the hospitality and in the end has only one request: As soon as he is dead, he may be spared the dissection table. He would not have been of any use to anyone alive. But dead at least a few tubers would enjoy it. Finally, during the night, the time has come: the man has a serious attack of illness, which will undoubtedly be fatal. Sir Hugo and Giles rush over to set up their devices. When the light amplifier is switched on this time, a ghastly ghost appears directly in front of the dying person's face, uttering terrible screams. Because of his fear, the man doesn't even know where to crawl to in order to escape this demon. Sir Hugo is delighted: You have caught a human asphyx. However, Giles asks for the asphyx to be released because the man is in agony. However, Sir Hugo wants to end the experiment first to prove its feasibility. But it doesn't get that far. Because the man is now so desperate and frightened that he throws a glass at Sir Hugo, which he has just got hold of from the table, with the words: "LET ME DIE!" Sir Hugo is hit completely in the face by the contents of the glass, a caustic acid, whereupon he shrinks back with a scream. The light amplifiers are then switched off so that the terminally ill person actually dies. A little later, Sir Hugo, receiving medical attention, is asleep in his bed. The next morning he wakes up with a slightly disfigured face, but still full of energy. He wants to go on because he is looking for what was already to be expected, for immortality. And he wants Giles to call up and capture his adoptive father's asphyx. As a reward, Sir Hugo offers him the prospect of marriage. He also wants to make him and Christina immortal. The experiment begins: the two gentlemen have built an electric chair to which Sir Hugo is strapped. He activates the chair and Giles activates the amplifier. But just as the asphyx is caught in the beam of the ceiling amplifier, Giles notices something terrible: there is no one to operate the amplifier on the container for the asphyx.

An accident can only be prevented because Christina happens to walk in. Giles calls her over immediately and tells her not to take her hand off the amplifier switch under any circumstances. Then he rushes to the container, whereupon he activates its amplifier. With combined forces, the two young people finally manage to capture the spirit. Together they free Sir Hugo from the electric chair, whereupon they put him to bed. Next, however, Lady Christina wants to know on the spot what is really going on here in the laboratory. So Giles has no choice but to tell her the truth. Together they carry the container in which the father's asphyx is trapped into the vault, where they place it next to Clive's coffin. There the container is also connected to the water supply, which means that the Asphyx can be held captive forever. So Sir Hugo cannot die. Lady Christina cannot believe that. The next day, Sir Hugo and Giles have a heated argument. Sir Huge doesn't like it that his daughter now also knows about the current experiments. Giles countered violently that he, Sir Hugo, would have died yesterday evening if his daughter hadn't come in by accident. Neither of them would have considered that the experiment requires two assistants, one at each of the two amplifiers. This mistake almost had fatal consequences, which could only be prevented by Christina's accidental occurrence. Of course, it was unavoidable that the young lady saw a lot. And so he, Giles, was forced to tell her the truth. But it wouldn't matter anyway. Because Christina doesn't believe her boy of love. Sir Hugo doesn't like that either, because he also wants to make his daughter and future son-in-law, as well as their children and grandchildren, immortal. Let the Cunningham family live forever to do good works for England and humanity. So there has to be conclusive proof of immortality. And so Lady Christina and Giles found themselves alone in the Cunningham house that evening. Giles told Christina that her father had gone out and would certainly be back late. Finally the two lovers talk about the subject of immortality.

Christina can't really imagine that. Giles replied by asking if she was afraid of being with him forever. The next morning Christina discovers that her father's bed is untouched. Giles, informed of this by his excited fiancée, leads them into the vault. There Christina has to help him open a coffin. Sir Hugo lies in this coffin. Giles holds a bottle of smelling salts to his adoptive and future father-in-law so that he wakes up immediately. He's still a bit dazed, but otherwise fine. Now Giles asks his loved one what proof she still needs that it is possible to become immortal. After all, her father lay in an absolutely airtight coffin all night. And he survived this unscathed. A little later there was a heated argument between father and daughter Cunningham: Christina, totally frightened by the recent events, wanted to tell Sir Edward about these experiments. But her father knows how to prevent this with harsh words. He harshly compliments the visitor, whereupon he demands a decision from his daughter. If she refuses to want to become immortal, there will be no wedding to Giles. Christina counters just as violently that she feels it is wrong to become immortal. When she ran to her room, Giles confronts his adoptive father. He declares that he does not want to allow Sir Hugo to force his daughter to do something that she refuses. The nobleman countered harshly that he had the right to force her to do so if necessary. Later in the day, however, the situation calmed down for the time being. Sir Hugo speaks to his daughter again in a much more moderate tone. He explains to her that he is only asking her as love to do him this favor. After all, he has already lost Clive. He didn't want to lose her and Giles too. Christina has also calmed down and agrees to the experiment, much to her father's delight. She would like to do what makes him happy. So another experiment is being prepared. This time the asphyx is to be called with a guillotine.

Lady Christina is initially terrified of lying on this instrument of death. But Giles affectionately explains to her that he and Sir Hugo would be careful. After all, Christina is dearly loved by Giles and her father. So everything will be done so that nothing can happen to her. So the young lady lies on the table a little later. Sir Hugo has adapted the equipment a little. This is to prevent a near miss like last time as much as possible. Giles is to operate the amplifier on the coffin container for the asphyx as well as the guillotine, his adoptive and future father-in-law will take care of capturing the death spirit. But in spite of all caution, a catastrophe occurs: While the guillotine slowly descends and the asphyx appears, Sir Hugo suddenly sees the immortal guinea pig biting through a water hose. This leads to the second amplifier, which is supposed to lock his daughter's asphyx in his prison, one of the coffin-like containers. Immediately the nobleman wants to fill the amplifier with additional crystals. He rushes towards the device - accidentally pushing Giles aside. Startled by this process, he lets go of the guillotine lever, whereupon it rushes down uncontrollably and with full force. Lady Christina is beheaded. Scared to death, Sir Hugo realizes what misfortune has just happened. At first, Giles doesn't want to believe it. He explains that Christina can still be saved because they have already caught the asphyx. But Sir Hugo denies this, weeping bitterly. No one can survive with a severed head. So, for better or worse, the amplifiers have to be turned off, resulting in Lady Christina's immediate and final death. Giles grabs his adoptive father by the throat in anger and chokes him. But this attempted murder, accompanied by repeated shouts of the words “YOU KILLED CHRISTINA!” Does not help. Because Sir Hugo is now immortal. Later, on the evening of the unfortunate day, Giles enters the vault in despair. Lady Christina is now resting in her sarcophagus, dressed in a white shroud, her hair adorned with a wreath of flowers. Giles views his late fiancée with a mixture of deep grief and anger.

On the other hand, Sir Hugo is on the verge of despair. He sees his work as a failure. And he asks Giles for the combination for the door to the tomb. Sir Hugo wishes to release his Asphyx. He wants to end his life in order to be reunited with his loved ones in the afterlife. Giles agrees, but insists on the condition that he be immortalized by his adoptive father. According to his own admission, he wants to continue his work. Basically, the path they have taken is correct. The violent death of the woman they both loved was a tragic accident. This should not be repeated. In order to achieve this, however, he, Giles, needs more time for research. Sir Hugo finally agrees. His adopted son promises to leave an envelope with a slip of paper at hand in the laboratory. The combination for the door to the grave vault would be noted on this piece of paper. This would be intended as a precaution should another accident occur. Finally, a third experiment is being prepared. But Sir Hugo has no idea what plans his adopted son is actually pursuing: Giles goes to the laboratory at night. He goes to the guinea pig's cage. To this he says: “He (Sir Hugo) plans and intrigues. I can also plan and trick him! ”So he opens the amplifier hanging on the ceiling, whereupon he exchanges the blue crystals for worthless, white crystals. The experiment is to be carried out the next day. Giles wants to sit on a chair, over which a glass case is put. This is to be flooded with gas and thus the asphyx is called. Sir Hugo explains that he has rebuilt the amplifier so that he can now leave the ceiling amplifier switched on so that - as soon as the asphyx is in its beam - he can take care of the amplifier on the coffin container. Giles explains that he has already refilled crystals. The amplifiers would be ready for use. He also hands Sir Hugo the promised envelope. The experiment begins. Giles takes a seat on the chair and the glass case is pulled over him. Sir Hugo connects the hoses and turns on the poison gas. Then he goes to the ceiling amplifier. He throws the release lever - and is startled: nothing happens, the amplifier does not start.

As often as the nobleman operates the lever, neither the typical blinding blue light beam nor the asphyx appear. Fearful, Sir Hugo wants to give his adopted son oxygen and turn off the gas. But suddenly there is a terrible explosion. Giles has secretly taken a lighter into the glass case, which he now lights with the name of his dead fiancé on his lips. The explosion devastated the entire laboratory, killing Giles instantly. Sir Hugo remains unharmed. Now he rises from the rubble in despair when he discovers the body of his adopted son. Sir Hugo thinks he killed Giles too. And so he rushes to the tomb: he wants to release his asphyx. But he pauses at the door to the tomb. He burns the envelope without looking inside. Probably the numbers would be wrong anyway, based on what Giles said the night before. Then Sir Hugo picks up the immortal guinea pig and strokes the only friend and companion left to him on the way through immortality.

London, back to the present

It's a beautiful, sunny day. We are on the street that was shown at the beginning of the film. An old man in ragged clothes, one might mistake him for a beggar or a tramp, is walking down the street. He pauses briefly and turns his gaze to the sky and the rising sun. The viewer gets a glimpse of the man's face. It is wrinkled and as rigid as a death mask. The man is none other than the immortal Sir Hugo Cunningham. He has apparently left his country estate after all these horrors and has been wandering aimlessly through the country for a good century. He's still holding his only companion and friend, the immortal guinea pig, in his arms. He caresses it again and finally wants to cross the street. Suddenly the two cars involved in the traffic accident that could be seen at the beginning of the film rush towards each other and towards him. Brakes squeal, then an impact occurs. With that the film ends.

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