The Asphyx

The core narrative is set in late-19th-century Victorian England, a period of scientific curiosity and superstition. The events unfold within a grand estate, its lab, and the family tomb, emphasizing the era's appetite for life-and-death experiments. A later framing segment in 1970s London reveals the long shadow cast by these pursuits and how the past keeps returning.

Set primarily in London during the late 19th century, the film unfolds amid gaslit streets, a scholarly milieu, and a family tomb. Locations range from Sir Hugo's estate and laboratory to the Cunningham family mausoleum, underscoring the ritual and secrecy surrounding the experiments. A framing sequence later shifts to 1970s London, highlighting the lasting consequences of the pursuit of immortality.

⚗️ Immortality

Immortality is the driving force behind the experiments, a fantasy that treats death as a solvable problem. Sir Hugo's push to imprison the asphyx illuminates the dangerous belief that time can be conquered without ethical consequence. The pursuit exposes the fragility of humanity when time is extended without limits.

💀 Death

Death functions as both object of study and an ever-present threat that haunts the characters. The asphyx embodies the fear of dying and the desire to control it, turning mortality into a trap and a weapon. The sequence of deaths—the guinea pig, Christina, and others—drives the tragedy and moral cost.

🧭 Ethics

Ethical boundaries are neglected in the name of progress, with consent and humanity sidelined for immortality. Christina's reluctant involvement and Giles's sabotage reveal competing loyalties and deep moral ambiguity. The narrative asks whether scientific ambition can justify the ruin it leaves behind.