What Is The Pyx About?
The premise of The Pyx in 250 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the rain‑slick streets of Montreal, a single tragic fall draws a weary investigator into a world where ordinary vice and hidden fanaticism brush against each other. The case begins with the death of a young woman caught between addiction and a desperate attempt at redemption, and it quickly becomes clear that the circumstances surrounding her demise reach far beyond a routine police report.
Jim Henderson is a seasoned detective whose personal losses have taught him to trust his instincts more than the paperwork on his desk. Widowed and carrying the quiet ache of a family gone too soon, he navigates the city’s underbelly with a mix of methodical rigor and an almost reluctant fascination for the darker currents that flow beneath the surface. When the evidence he gathers hints at symbols and whispers of a sinister, devil‑worshipping fellowship, his investigation slips from the realm of conventional crime into something far more unsettling.
The film paints Montreal as a character in its own right—its neon‑lit alleys and cramped tenements echoing with the sighs of those trying to survive, while shadowy corners suggest rituals and beliefs that have long been buried. A tense, atmospheric score underlines the uneasy blend of gritty noir and an uncanny, almost gothic dread. As Henderson pieces together fragmented clues, the audience is invited to feel the pull between rational deduction and the unnerving possibility that something far older and more malevolent may be at work, leaving the city—and its inhabitants—shrouded in a fog of unanswered questions.
What Happens in The Pyx?
The complete story of The Pyx, from the first scene to the last, in 530 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
In Montreal, a woman named Elizabeth Lucy, Karen Black, falls to her death from a tenement building. Police arrive and find a crucifix and a small metal pyx gripped in her hand. Widowed detective Sergeant Jim Henderson, Christopher Plummer, is assigned to the case, and soon learns that Elizabeth was a heroin-addicted prostitute. Henderson determines that the apartment she leapt from was unoccupied, and that the building also serves as a brothel operation. Leading up to her death, Elizabeth, a lapsed Catholic, was struggling to get her life in order.
Henderson interviews Meg Latimer, the madam of the brothel where Elizabeth was sometimes employed. Meg tells him that Elizabeth frequently worked outside the brothel against Meg’s wishes, who felt it was unsafe. Upon returning to re-question Meg at the brothel the following day, Henderson finds both her and one of her employees dead, their throats slashed. He subsequently interviews the building superintendent and shows him Elizabeth’s crucifix, but he refuses to speak. Later, Henderson meets with Elizabeth’s gay roommate and close friend, Jimmy, Terry Haig, who recalls his friendship with Elizabeth, whom he says was one of the few people in his life to treat him with benevolence and compassion. Jimmy recalls that Elizabeth had acted erratically the day of her death, making oblique references to a new, rich client. Henderson escorts Jimmy back to the apartment he shared with Elizabeth, but the two are ambushed by an unseen assailant who shoots Jimmy to death. A shootout follows between police and the assailant, who hides out on a docked boat.
Henderson pieces together Elizabeth’s final weeks leading up to her death: After visiting Sandra, a teenaged fellow heroin addict who is detoxing in the hospital, Elizabeth was phoned by Meg, who informed her she had given several “special” clients Elizabeth’s contact information. Elizabeth met with one of the men, Keerson, a mysterious French-Canadian man who owns the building in which Meg’s brothel is located. Elizabeth presumed their first meeting would be a sexual transaction, but instead Keerson merely had her disrobe and tell him her life story. Elizabeth grew paranoid after finding herself being followed by Keerson’s associates, but Meg dissuaded her fears. On the night of her death, Elizabeth arrived at the brothel for the planned “festivities” for which Meg has promised a large payoff. There, Meg drugged Elizabeth’s drink. Shortly after, Keerson—in fact a Roman Catholic priest—and other elite occultists arrived to hold a Black Mass.
Before the other occultists, Keerson offered Elizabeth a desecrated host from a pyx. Elizabeth took the host, but moments later threw herself from the window to her death before the ritual could be completed.
Henderson, having obtained Keerson’s name from Jimmy before his death, traces Keerson to his parish, and becomes convinced he is responsible for Elizabeth’s death. Upon Henderson’s arrival, Keerson admits to having forsaken his faith for Satan and performed the Black Mass that culminated in Elizabeth’s death. Keerson further reveals intimate knowledge about Henderson—apparently received telepathically—such as that Henderson was relieved when his wife died in a car accident. When Keerson implies that he is possessed by Satan himself, Henderson shoots him multiple times. > You have set me free.
The Pyx Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Elizabeth's death and initial discovery” to “Confrontation and final death”. 13 events name a place, across 10 locations.
- 1
Elizabeth's death and initial discovery
Elizabeth Lucy falls to her death from a Montreal tenement, and the scene is punctuated by religious imagery. Police discover a crucifix and a small metal pyx clenched in her hand, hinting at a Catholic thread to the case. Detective Sergeant Jim Henderson is assigned to investigate and quickly learns Elizabeth was a heroin-addicted prostitute and that the apartment she leapt from was unoccupied, with the building also serving as a brothel.
When:night of Elizabeth's death Where:Montreal tenement building
- 2
Henderson questions Meg Latimer
Henderson interviews Meg Latimer, the brothel's madam, who explains Elizabeth often worked outside the establishment and Meg had warned that this was unsafe. Meg portrays Elizabeth as fragile, chasing dangerous clients and money while trying to stay afloat. The interview begins to reveal the dangerous underworld surrounding the victim.
When:following day Where:Meg Latimer's brothel
- 3
Meg and an employee are found dead
Returning to Meg for a follow‑up, Henderson discovers Meg and one of her employees dead, their throats slashed. The brutal discovery deepens the mystery and binds the case to a network of powerful clients and secrecy. Henderson starts to link Elizabeth's life to the brothel’s operations and the occult rumors swirling around them.
When:the following day Where:Meg's brothel
- 4
Superintendent refuses to speak
Henderson interrogates the building superintendent and shows him Elizabeth's crucifix, hoping for a witness or clue. The superintendent refuses to talk, adding to the wall of silence around the building. This lack of cooperation pushes Henderson to consider hidden powers at work behind the scenes.
When:shortly after Where:building premises
- 5
Jimmy shares Elizabeth’s humanity
Henderson meets Jimmy, Elizabeth’s gay roommate, who recalls her rare kindness and their long friendship. Jimmy hints at a new, wealthy client and Elizabeth’s increasingly erratic behavior in the days before her death. His recollections provide a personal glimpse into the victim’s life and fears.
When:before Elizabeth's death Where:Elizabeth's apartment / Jimmy's residence
- 6
Ambush and Jimmy’s death
Henderson escorts Jimmy back to Elizabeth's apartment, but they are ambushed by an unseen assailant who shoots Jimmy dead. A tense shootout then unfolds as the attacker flees, eventually taking to a docked boat. The violence underscores the reach of the case beyond the immediate crime scene.
When:immediate aftermath Where:Elizabeth's apartment and nearby docked boat
- 7
Elizabeth visits Sandra in hospital
Parallel to the investigation, Elizabeth visits Sandra, a fellow heroin addict detoxing in the hospital, seeking help and information. The hospital scenes expose the depth of her addiction and isolation from the world she’s trying to leave behind. This helps illuminate Elizabeth’s state of mind in her final weeks.
When:before the final night Where:Hospital (Sandra’s ward)
- 8
Elizabeth meets Keerson
Elizabeth meets Keerson, a mysterious French-Canadian man who owns the building that Meg runs from. She expects a transactional encounter, but Keerson instead has her disrobe and tells him her life story. The meeting marks a turning point toward an occult framework rather than a simple sexual exchange.
When:first meeting night Where:Keerson's building
- 9
Paranoia grows as she is followed
Elizabeth grows paranoid after suspecting Keerson’s associates are following her, though Meg tries to reassure her and downplay the danger. The fear tightens around her; a sense of surveillance foreshadows the ritualistic events to come. The tension blends with Elizabeth’s deteriorating mental state.
When:days after first meeting Where:around the brothel / city streets
- 10
Night of the planned festivities
Elizabeth arrives at the brothel for the promised large payoff, the prelude to the occult rites. Meg drugs Elizabeth’s drink to subdue her ahead of the ritual. Elizabeth senses something is wrong but is overwhelmed by fatigue and fear as the night unfolds.
When:night of the death Where:Meg's brothel
Show the other 3 events of The Pyx Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Black Mass and the desecrated host
Keerson, revealed as a Roman Catholic priest, and other occultists begin a Black Mass inside the brothel. He offers Elizabeth a desecrated host from a pyx, a ritual act that shatters her resolve. Moments after taking the host, Elizabeth leaps from the window to her death, interrupting the ceremony.
When:during the ceremony Where:Meg's brothel
- 12
Henderson hunts Keerson to the parish
Henderson follows Keerson’s trail to his parish, convinced he is behind Elizabeth’s death. Keerson admits forsaking his faith for Satan and reveals that he performed the Black Mass that night. The confession marks a shift from criminal investigation to spiritual warfare in Henderson’s mind.
When:after Elizabeth's death Where:Keerson’s parish
- 13
Confrontation and final death
In a climactic confrontation, Keerson reveals telepathic knowledge of Henderson’s life and hints at possession. Henderson shoots Keerson multiple times, and the priest dies with the line, You have set me free. The act closes the fragmentary case but leaves Henderson changed by the encounter.
When:final confrontation Where:Keerson’s parish
Who Are the Main Characters in The Pyx?
9 characters, among them Elizabeth Lucy (Karen Black), Jim Henderson (Dt. Sgt. Jim Henderson) (Christopher Plummer) and Meg Latimer (Meg) (Yvette Brindamour): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
-
Elizabeth Lucy (Karen Black)
Played by Karen Black
A heroin-addicted prostitute whose fragile life collides with a hidden conspiracy. Her death sets off a police investigation that uncovers a network of exploitation and ritual influence.
- 💊 Addiction
- 🕵️ Crime
- 🎭 Drama
-
Jim Henderson (Dt. Sgt. Jim Henderson) (Christopher Plummer)
Played by Christopher Plummer
Widowed detective sergeant devoted to solving Elizabeth's case. He pieces together Elizabeth’s final weeks while facing danger, political pressure, and personal turmoil.
- 🕵️ Detective
- 🔎 Investigation
- ⚖️ Duty
- ML
Meg Latimer (Meg) (Yvette Brindamour)
Played by Yvette Brind'amour
The brothel’s madam who controls the illicit network and manipulates information for monetary gain, ultimately entangled in Elizabeth’s fate.
- 💼 Prostitution
- 🧪 Drugging
- 🎭 Drama
- K(
Keerson (Jean-Louis Roux)
Played by Jean-Louis Roux
A wealthy, enigmatic figure tied to the building housing Meg’s brothel. He is revealed as a Catholic priest who has forsaken faith to pursue occult power, orchestrating the fatal Black Mass.
- 🔮 Occultism
- 🗝️ Power
- 🧭 Influence
- J(
Jimmy (Terry Haig)
Played by Terry Haig
Elizabeth’s gay roommate and confidant who provides essential testimony about her life. His own life is cut short as the case spirals into danger.
- 🏳️🌈 LGBTQ
- 💬 Friendship
- 🔪 Violence
- S(
Superintendent (Jacques Godin)
Played by Jacques Godin
The building superintendent who embodies the bureaucratic and evasive side of the investigation.
- 🗝️ Authority
- 🤐 Secrecy
- 🏗️ Buildings
- PP
Pierre Paquette (Dt. Sgt. Pierre Paquette) (Donald Pilon)
Played by Donald Pilon
A fellow detective who participates in the investigation, reflecting the procedural dynamics and tensions within police work.
- 🕵️ Detective
- 🧭 Bureaucracy
- ⚖️ Duty
- S(
Sandra (Louise Rinfret)
Played by Louise Rinfret
A teenaged heroin addict in detox, whose plight foregrounds the vulnerable communities pulled into Elizabeth’s world.
- 💊 Addiction
- 🧑🤝🧑 Community
- 🗨️ Dialogue
- HG
Henderson's Girlfriend (Julie Wildman)
Played by Julie Wildman
A personal connection to Henderson, providing emotional grounding amid the case’s darkness.
- 💬 Relationship
- ❤️ Personal stakes
- 🕵️♂️ Reality
Where and When Is The Pyx Set?
The Pyx is set in Montreal, Quebec and Canada. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
The story unfolds in Montreal, a densely populated city with historic streets and gritty neighborhoods. Tenement buildings, churches, and seedy establishments frame a world where crime intertwines with faith and desire. The urban backdrop amplifies the tension as investigations reveal a web of exploitation and secrecy.
- 🏙️ City setting
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🌆 Urban crime drama
What Are the Themes of The Pyx?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Occultism, Corruption and Justice.
-
01
Occultism
A central thread centers on a Black Mass orchestrated by elite occultists, who desecrate symbols of faith to manipulate and control. The ritual atmosphere underscores a clash between belief, power, and corruption. Elizabeth’s fate is bound to a ritualized conspiracy that drives the crime drama.
-
02
Corruption
Elizabeth's descent into addiction and prostitution exposes a corrupt urban ecosystem where exploitation and secrecy protect those in power. The investigation reveals uneasy alliances among property owners, criminals, and the elite. The atmosphere grows increasingly dangerous as innocent lives are sacrificed to maintain a concealed order.
-
03
Justice
Detective Henderson pursues the truth through a maze of fear, complicity, and violence. The case tests the limits of law enforcement in a world where power can suppress accountability. The pursuit raises questions about duty, vengeance, and the true meaning of justice.
-
04
Religion
Religious imagery anchors the narrative, contrasting Catholic faith with occult desecration. Keerson’s betrayal of his faith and his role in the ritual highlight a deeper crisis of meaning. The confrontation between faith and ritual power drives the film’s moral tension.
What Kind of Film Is The Pyx?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bleak
A dark and gritty investigative thriller that builds a steadily oppressive sense of dread as a detective uncovers a sinister satanic conspiracy rooted in exploitation and corrupted faith.
- suspenseful
- oppressive
- somber
- paranoid
- sinister
- gritty
- crime investigation
- satanic cult
- religious corruption
- prostitution
Content notes: murder, graphic violence, drug addiction, satanic ritual, exploitation, death of a friend.
Quiz
How well do you remember The Pyx? Test yourself on the story.
Where to Watch The Pyx
Stream it on Amazon MX Player and Amazon Prime Video, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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