I found this movie for cheap and thought very highly of it. I've always been a huge Christopher Plummer fan (The Silent Partner '1978' is also great!) I really think that a 5.4 is much too low for this creepy detective thriller - it's deserving of at least a 6.5. If you find it, don't read the synopsis on the back of the sleeve - just watch it. The box gives away a few things.
shareI thought it was quite good myself. It's a very eerie, unnerving and intriguing film with excellent performances by Karen Black and Christopher Plummer. The interesting and imaginative back-and-forth nonlinear narrative structure creates a good deal of tension and intrigue, plus the downbeat ending is genuinely shocking. I own a passable quality DVD which offers a letterboxed presentation of the film from a pretty beat-up print.
"Warren Oates died for our sins"
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I certainly am. This is certainly one of the better 'Rosemary's Baby' (1968) clones to emerge in the early 70's. In fact, during this time period in Canada, where 'The Pyx' (1973) originates, Polanski-inspired pictures such as these marked the trend within the genre and another step in the evolution of Canadian horror cinema (which at the time was admittedly scarce). The other two films included in this small category are 'The Reincarnate' (1971) and 'Le Diable est parmi nous' (1972). I have never seen either of the above, but would greatly like to do so, for I am a huge fan of Canadian horror.
However, a better print certainly would benefit any future DVD releases of 'The Pyx', but whether an original negative is still in existence is rather dubious.
"Pull the string, pull the string!" -Bela Lugosi
I just bought this movie, and I have to remark on your connecting it to Rosmary's Baby. Rosmary's Baby came out as a 1967 book (by Ira Levin) which was quickly made into a movie in 1968. However, did you know that "The Pyx" is based off of a Canadian novel (called "The Pyx") which was written by Montreal author John Buell in 1959? So not only may it be a Rosemary's Baby follow-up, but additionally, it was as a result of a prior (Canadian) horror novel.
The movie and atmosphere are fantastic, in my opinion. I have to admit, though, that I was just as upset as the Satanic priest when she stuck the host in her mouth and ran away .. producing results unlike the outcome in Rosemary's Baby. And what was all the shooting with the pistols at the ship? I mean, the cops were standing out in the open just blasting of rounds .... were they really in a shootout? I don't think so ....
I was not aware that The Pyx (1973) was based on a Canadian novel. Do you know where one could find the book if it is still available?
"Pull the string, pull the string!" -Bela Lugosi
Yep - it's in amazon.com, and also alibris.com. (alibris starts at $2, amazon starts at $5). Just type in "the pyx", or else the author's name "john buell". The whole movie, including the novel, is completely a Montreal, Canada production, and includes their French Roman Catholic background. (It says near the end of the beginning credits that is was based on that book). It makes it all that more interesting, since the book was written way back in 1959. (I haven't read it yet, either, but now I plan to).
Here's a little more info about the author and the movie:
http://www.bookrags.com/biography/john-edward-buell-dlb/
It certainly makes it more interesting. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that the film was not made as a result of the recent success of Rosemary’s Baby (1968).
"Pull the string, pull the string!" -Bela Lugosi
I finally got the book. It's a pretty thin novel. I got the original 1960 U.S. edition (it was originally in 1959). They added a postcript at the end, of a couple of pages, in the 1960 edition, called "The Secret of the Pyx", by a completely different author. I'm guessing it's because the novel was so mysterious, and gave so little information, that no one could understand exactly what was going on. It doesn't say one time in the book about a satanic cult or anything - you just have to guess that that's what's going on - as the Pyx shows up, she swallows the Host, the guy gets angry and pushes her off the building, then goes crazy and starts babbling. The postscript starts "The novel you have just read may have left you a bit mystified as to the true character of Keerson and the nature of the rites he intended to perform over the nude body of Elizabeth Lucy. (That's an understatement!). Keerson had become a victim of demoniacal possession and was attempting as a Satanist to perform the terrible ritual of the Black Mass." He then goes into the traditional witchcraft description, a la Montague Summers
Besides that, the book also bounces back from past to present to past again. It's more of an unusual mystery than some kind of satanic novel. It's as if the writer was trying to show how important the Host was to her, and how she rescued it from a blasphemer.
Jim
I have to say, it sounds poorly written to say the least. Do you think it's worth the burden of tracking it down?
"Pull the string, pull the string!" -Bela Lugosi
It's not exciting, but I was glad I got it, since I enjoyed the movie. It always makes the movie more interesting, to thumb through the book it was based on. But it's easy to get. It will be on either Amazon (where I got it), or Alibris. It was only a couple of bucks. It looks like they got their ideas for the satanic props in the movie from that Postscript that was tacked on the end, as far as I can tell.
shareI'll consider purchasing it. Thanks for all the information!
"Pull the string, pull the string!" -Bela Lugosi
Well, certainly, after the success of Rosemary's Baby, someone who remembered reading this book, may have been struck with the idea, that it might make a good film.
I saw this during its original run &, sadly, didn't really 'get' it. I'd like to see it again.
Carpe Noctem
If you wish to see it again, The Pyx (1973) is readily available through Netflix. Also, if there are any video-rental stores that cater to these sorts of obscurities in your city or town, you may end up stumbling upon it.
"Pull the string, pull the string!" -Bela Lugosi
I bought this movie for $1.25 from the clearance bin of a video store. Unfortunately, like a lot of rental tapes, it was severely worn, and the sound and picture were very bad. I patiently watched it through to the end, however, and I was pleased with this overlooked thriller. Christopher Plummer and Karen Black were terrific, and that creepy music toward the end was unforgettable -- they must have recorded some vocals, then sped them up so they sound like children shrieking. Regardless, this deserves a higher rating. It's hard to believe that the biggest vote on this was 4.
shareThis movie was great. I bought an ex-rental copy a while ago, in good shape; it's a shame the transfer is one of the murkiest I've ever seen. I too hope The Pyx is rediscovered and is given the royal DVD treatment it deserves.
"Cain and Abel will go to Heaven... if they can make it through Hell!"
-Los Hijos Del Topo
I liked The Pyx although it took a while to get used to the bad print. (Or maybe the print actually got better.) Karen Black is excellent with one hell of a body. Christopher Plummer also very good. I enjoyed the French character actors ( esp. the madame) and the back and forth of characters speaking English and French. The past/present time line was nicely handled. Very interesting (but maybe could've edited out about 10-15 minutes).
Thank god for Karen Black though. You know?
http://amanandamouse.blogspot.com/
Love it...
Nothing says fun times like a good old fashioned 70's police drama/horror flick :)
"A plan is a list of things that don't happen" Way of the Gun
Count me among the slight grouping of fans. Love Karen Black in anything, and love early 70's genre stuff of bleak, unsettling, or disturbing nature. The film has problems like pacing, but it retains enough nuggets for me to often put it on while I work.
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I got this ina bargain bin at Walmart for $6.99. It is a DVD snack pack of 6 ‘Terrifying Movies’ distributed by Image, Amity and Lakeshore Entertainment. The movie wasn’t called The Pyx, it was ineptly called ‘The Hooker Cult Murders’... I don’t believe the film was remastered, although the quality was okay. I totally loved this movie. I don’t think it was a horror, although it was an intense drama. 10/ 10
Smoke me a kipper. I’ll be back for breakfast
I love Karen Black in anything, especially when she's not wearing anything.
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I'm listening to Karen on the DVD commentary and she immediately said that was not her ass. She keeps talking about how big her hips were then.
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