A gentleman scientist, following his discovery of photographic evidence of a spirit present at the moment of death, ropes in his daughter's sceptical fiancée in a bid to achieve immortality. Will it go wrong? Will it heck!
O Gawd - yet another period horror from the Brits. This one has huge ambition, with a tale of hubris and nemesis and defiance of the gods, touching on Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and a strictly middle class version of social reform. Yet it trips over the smallest practical detail, especially when these brilliant men realise mid-experiment the need of an extra pair of hands. Plus there's an eye rolling plot point involving a nibbly guinea pig that probably had the actors in stitches.
The lead part is played with a bit of ham, but Robert Powell has not an ounce of fat on him and executes the Michael Caine no-blink-gaze to perfection. The pace drags a bit, owing to the implausibility and illogicality of the second act. Editing is patchy, and the music is standard for the genre. The sets and costumes look good, and the effects for the asphyx itself are acceptable, but the hanging scene is poorly executed when it could have driven home the grim subject of the story. The framing device of a car accident just reminds me that the typical city in early '70s Britain looked much the same as it does today - boxy and grotty.
I know some reviewers enjoy this film, but I'm just tired of period horror. More imagination, please.
O Gawd - yet another period horror from the Brits. This one has huge ambition, with a tale of hubris and nemesis and defiance of the gods, touching on Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and a strictly middle class version of social reform. Yet it trips over the smallest practical detail, especially when these brilliant men realise mid-experiment the need of an extra pair of hands. Plus there's an eye rolling plot point involving a nibbly guinea pig that probably had the actors in stitches.
The lead part is played with a bit of ham, but Robert Powell has not an ounce of fat on him and executes the Michael Caine no-blink-gaze to perfection. The pace drags a bit, owing to the implausibility and illogicality of the second act. Editing is patchy, and the music is standard for the genre. The sets and costumes look good, and the effects for the asphyx itself are acceptable, but the hanging scene is poorly executed when it could have driven home the grim subject of the story. The framing device of a car accident just reminds me that the typical city in early '70s Britain looked much the same as it does today - boxy and grotty.
I know some reviewers enjoy this film, but I'm just tired of period horror. More imagination, please.