Titreenp
SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?
Kinley
This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows
goods116
As a 70s film buff I have plenty of tolerance for genre films, slow moving European fare, B and Z movies, etc. This movie has potential, with some nice 70s atmosphere and decent acting, but the plot is thin and the movie is simply boring. After 30 minutes, I struggled to get through this. It's just not that interesting. Only see if you are a 70s horror / satanic movie completist, into the Canadian film scene (which has many 70s gems), or like the actors.
Ben Larson
We may not be seeing Oscar nominee (Five Easy Pieces) Karen Black's rear in this film, as she uses a body double, but we do get to hear her sing three songs on the soundtrack, so that is something positive.It is shot in Canada during the winter, so it is dark and bleak. Appropriate for a story about a murdered prostitute (Black), and Satanic rituals.Double Oscar nominee (The Beginners, The Last Station) Christopher Plummer plays the detective trying to solve the murder. Despite the presence of Black and Plummer, it really didn't grab me, and I was irritated by the lighting. I really don't like pictures that take place at night.
Maciste_Brother
I saw THE PYX 20 years ago on TV, in a "pan & scan" version, and I thought the film's mood was memorable enough for me to seek it out once it became available in widescreen. I finally saw it in WS and the "pan & scan" version suddenly looks better in comparison. So much of the action took place on the far side of the screen (far left or far right) that the screen composition was almost silly. Some scenes, like the one with Christopher Plummer and that gay man walking in Old Montreal, or the interrogation scene we're shot from so far away that I felt I needed binoculars.If the cinematography was frustrating, the music score was nearly disastrous. What sounded good back in 1973 doesn't necessarily sound good today, certainly regarding that overplayed Joan Baez-like song. The music during the Devil worshiping scene is basically sounds/music played backwards. Playing music backwards to hear Satan is now a funny cliché and that music certainly didn't help create any tension. The acting was forced. Karen Black looked remarkably old even though this is one of her earliest films. The makeup job was bad and the above mentioned cinematography made her look older than she really was. Christopher Plummer's role is almost negligible. The mood is still there but it's impact is lost when seeing in WS. In fact, as the film went on, the less I enjoyed the atmosphere. I realized it was over-zealously lugubrious, not atmospheric. It's also very dated but it's not awful because of it. In fact, it's one of its positive aspects.THE PYX is a frustrating films ever. So much good stuff going for it and yet so little of it actually adds up to a satisfying cinematic experience. The best thing about it is the 1970s feel/look of Montreal. It's an amazing time capsule.
preppy-3
Prostitute Elizabeth Lucy (Karen Black) is found dead at the beginning--she fell (or was pushed) from the top of a building. Police sergeant Jim Henderson (Christopher Plummer) investigates and finds himself involved in satanic rites, ritual killings and more. Also there are flashbacks to the last few days of Lucy's life to see what happened to her.Interesting but very confusing. It starts off pretty good with Black singing (and doing a credible job) over the opening credits and throughout the film. Then it gets very involved, the story gets muddled and murky and leads to an unsatisfying end. To be honest I'm STILL not sure what happened! Also there's bad overdubbing of voices, poor direction and a hysterically bad score at the end which sounds like a bunch of Munchkins signing! The acting is pretty good considering the material. Plummer (a great actor) looks miserable and gives a rare bad performance. Black however was just great. It's a very difficult role and she pulls it off. I kept watching solely for her. So--if you do want to see it see it for Black.Be warned: The St. Clair DVD is in terrible shape. It (obviously) inserts a new title (calling it "The Hooker Cult Murders"!), has faded color and jumps VERY badly at the beginning. Also the sound quality is poor and the movie ends a full nine minutes before it's 111 min running time. That may have some reason for me not understanding it.
