L'Abominable Docteur Phibes

The movie was so successful they made some kind of sequel called "theater of blood" which was,IMHO ,even better for Shakespeare was more inspiring than the plagues of Egypt and also because the hero had a more talented co-star in the shape of Dame Diana Rigg . But "Phibes" was the first one -although it owes ,like lots of other movies ,a good deal to Agatha Christie and "and then there were none" -and is a must for any horror buff;the crimes are ,so to speak,imaginative and you will know where the "Saw" writers found some of their better ideas when you see the scene of the operation;although American,Joseph Cotten has got the British stiff upper lip;the police never lose their composure amids all those horrors and brilliantly fail to prevent the good doctor from doing away with those who botched their work some years back.

Sheer terror doesn't get much more frightening than this. Scare-master Vincent Price plays a doctor who loses his voice in a car accident, but can still speak by way of an electronic device. He vows revenge on the nine doctors that were responsible for an unsuccessful surgery attempt on his wife, Victoria. He, along with his fiendish but sexy assistant Vulnavia (Virginia North), murder them one by one in such grotesque ways as draining one guy of all his blood, attacking a nurse with a swarm of locusts, and giving an attendee of a costume party a frog mask that becomes so tight around his neck that it snaps his head off. The sheer audacity of these grisly murders, along with Price's meticulous and methodical planning, make for a one-of a-kind scary experience.

I don't know how this stacks up in the annals of successful horror films. The plot is strained as a man seeks revenge on every participant in the operating room where his wife died. There are nine of them. Nobody does painful angst better than Vincent Price. He is Dr. Phibes and his performance is the be all and end all of this film. He is bitter and morose and cackles and fumes as he does in one after another. The ways that he murders these people are creative and almost masterful. He is an artist and a musician and he manages to strike a chord with all of us. If you love Vincent price, don't back away from this film.

1st watched 12/11/2004 - 7 out of 10(DIr-Robert Fuest): Campy cult classic with perfect performance and role by Vincent Price who does most of the job through his facial expressions and presence. The story revolves around a dead-like "Dr. Phibes" playing his organ, directing music, dancing and ceremoniously killing off the surgeons who failed to fix his wife after a car accident. He uses the Pharoah's curses as the basis for each killing and he inventively makes each one unique and grins and even applauds himself after one demise. Some subtle British humor is also thrown in for extra but all that's needed with this one is Price and this role to make it classic horror-camp.

Calling this 'Horror' does not make it justice. I wouldn't call it 'movie', either, but 'film'. It's pure art. The sets and art direction are incredible, the whole movie shows the 'aura' of 1920's Art Deco, giving it that 'classy' touch. The script is also very original, and there's even room in it for lots of laughs, without sacrificing style or rhythm. Vincent Price is PERFECT as Phibes, as the other reviewer just said. He IS Phibes, and succeeds where others would probably fail miserably, fitting in perfectly in the 'tone' of the movie. Great direction by Robert Fuest, also. He managed to mix the perfect amount of horror, drama, romance and comedy in a single movie.