By Melissa Antoinette Garza
Movies about devil worshiping cults always interest me. When you delve into those within the sub-genre that were made in the 1970s, you’re nearly guaranteed a good flick.
THE PYX (1973) begins when a man calls the police after seeing drug addicted prostitute, Elizabeth Lucy (Karen Black) fall to her death. It isn’t clear whether she jumped or was pushed, but Sgt. Jim Henderson (Christopher Plummer) is on the case.
When arriving at the scene, Henderson notices a few Christian symbols on the body. Both a crucifix and a pyx, a box where members of the Catholic church carry the consecrated bread, representative of the last supper for the Eucharist celebration.
Henderson and his partner Sgt. Pierre Paquette (Donald Pion) are confused by the Christian symbols. They go into the madam’s house and threaten to shut it down if they don’t start getting answers. As the investigation mounts, it becomes clear that Henderson’s initial suspicion was correct. Someone or something is behind her tragic demise and in a series of flashback sequences, we learn the truth.
When we first meet Elizabeth, she’s in naked after having sex with a client. The john is smitten with her and though she is kind, it’s clear that this is a job for her. She’s fantastic at the profession and one can easily understand why the man would be taken. Elizabeth is a phenomenally gorgeous woman who has such a unique style and manner, all her own. She’s also one of the most sympathetic prostitutes on screen.
When she visits her detoxing friend going thru withdrawals in the hospital, Elizabeth has a breakdown. She cares about her friend’s sobriety, but is in denial of her own addiction. It’s so sad as the viewer knows while watching this scene that Elizabeth will never get the chance to be well. The question is who took that chance away and why. Things become even darker when it appears a satanic cult is involved.
Elizabeth meets up with Keerson (Jean-Louis Roux), a snazzy dresser who says he wants to hire her.He has her get naked and asks her about herself and her religious beliefs. Elizabeth goes along with it and in the end is deeply affected by the event. She is unaware that this interesting and handsome gent has sinister plans. Kudos to the film for choosing such a sexy cult leader.
THE PYX is an underrated slow burn which showcases the spectacular talents of Christopher Plummer and the late, beyond great, Karen Black.
Without question, Plummer shines in his role as the detective who refuses to let her death go. I’ve always adored Plummer’s performances. In fact, it was only when he took over the role in ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD (2017) that it became a must-see for me.
In THE PYX, the tone Plummer takes as Henderson is very reminiscent of Edward Woodward’s legendary performance as Sgt. Neil Howie in THE WICKER MAN (1973). Though, THE WICKER MAN was produced in the UK and THE PYX was filmed in Canada, the films did come out only two months apart from one another. The films are very different from one another, but at some point, I’d love to dive deep into a compare-and-contrast character analyses of Henderson and Howie.
In regards to Karen Black’s performance, it was marvelous. Black is a favorite of mine. She portrays Elizabeth with such heart and compassion for others that it’s impossible not to feel awful for her. There’s this one scene where she shoots up and a hauntingly wonderful soundtrack plays as we see her escape into a fantasy. In horror, drug abusers are often portrayed as inhumane and without conscience. Here, the opposite is depicted. It’s clear that Elizabeth’s desire for a better world and an escape from the tragedies around her instigated her battle with heroin.
I had a crush on Karen Black from the moment I saw her on screen as a child. She captivated me and was one of those rare beauties that I both fantasized about being and being with. Those compelled by her exquisiteness will enjoy THE PYX immensely. There are a few very sexy scenes, most notably at the end during a black mass.
Her contributions to the genre are endless. You can look at examples like BURNT OFFERINGS (1976), TRILOGY OF TERROR (1975), INVADERS FROM MARS (1986) and HOUSE OF A 1000 CORPSES (2003) just to name a few. Of course, her talents stretched further than horror and sci-fi. THE DAY OF THE LOCUST (1975), FAMILY PLOT (1976) and FIVE EASY PIECES (1970) are all tremendous testimonies to her strength and versatility as an actress. She is very missed and will always be beloved.
While watching THE PYX, I’m reminded as to how much the 1970s understood every component needed to make a great horror film. Any newer horror fans that haven’t ventured to the great works of that decade, I have a suggestion. Make it a point to choose out films from all different countries around that time frame. Personally, I revel in both the similarities and differences in structure, character development and theme. You will find some amazing and creative movies whether looking to the UK, Canada, US, Italy, Brazil, Spain or the Philippines. The cultures, budgets, styles and brazenness are all very different. My favorites are the films where the influence of different country is interwoven into a tale that is still expressive of their own customs. The clashes in tone and technique can bring upon some strange moments and wonderfully eerie scenes.
As for THE PYX, this is a must watch. It’s a film that demands patience, but offers amazing visuals and a great story. The conclusion is brilliant and shocks in the final moments.
Scared Stiff Rating: 7.5/10
