In Victorian England, a passionate and eccentric doctor named Sir Hugo, obsessed with life and death, embarks on a disturbing quest that challenges the boundaries of science and morality. Following the tragic death of his fiancée, he plunges into bold experiments in a bid to capture what he calls the "asphyxiant," an entity that, according to his beliefs, escapes the body at the moment of death. Armed with rudimentary equipment, Hugo attempts to prove that death can be halted and, with it, life prolonged.
As he delves deeper into his research, he uncovers a dark path filled with sacrifices and unexpected consequences. Hugo becomes obsessed with capturing the moment of death of individuals, subjecting several people to extreme situations, all in the name of science. However, his discovery of the connection between life and death turns into a curse as he begins to experience nightmarish visions of trapped souls, revealing the devastating effects of his experiments.
With his sanity and reputation at stake, Hugo faces moral dilemmas that push him to the brink. Can humanity play at being God without suffering severe consequences? Confronted by the demons he has unleashed, he must decide between his unchecked ambition and his humanity, in a struggle between life and death that will transform him forever.