Bloodtype Online
For the best of the Horror/Cult/Exploitation film experience
The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
If there is one name that the mere mention of makes you think of horror, and that name is Vincent Price. Price has played some of the most memorable on screen characters ever in the history of horror films, and is known as one of if not the most recognizable name as far as horror actors go. But out of all of those roles and great films, I think it's safe for me to say that out of all of his work that I've ever seen that his best work is here, in director Robert Fuest's classic 1971 film The Abominable Dr. Phibes . Not only is the movie memorable and excellent in just about everyway, but it's even trickled it's way into our day to day popular culture. On January 1999 there was even a reference to Price and this film in The Simpsons episode Sunday, Cruddy Sunday which had Marge calling the Vincent Price Egg Magic people (in the episode they are dressing up eggs with a Vincent Price brand of Egg Magic coloring) and when a recording of Price comes on she mentions this film by name. Now sure I'm a dork for the show, but it's something that I've always found to be pretty cool since I'm a horror fan.
The Abominable Dr. Phibes is the story of Anton Phibes an organist whose wife died at the hand of a team of doctors. He believes that they screwed up during the surgery that cost him his lovely wife so of course he decides to get revenge. Phibes uses the Pharoah's Curse of the Old Testament as his means for revenge, taking out the doctors one by one with various methods of death. As the police get further involved they figure that Phibes was involved even though he was burned to death in a car crash years earlier.
One of the most memorable things to me about this film is the incredible set design that adds to the atmosphere to the film. It's really incredible how they must have put all of these sets together as they are really elaborate and it shows. Not only that but the costume design is excellent and some of the kills in the film are setup through elaborate set pieces or interesting pieces of wardrobe (frog mask anyone?) that really make this film a one of a kind type of production.
Vincent Price's performance in the film is truly a sight to behold. It's probably his most noted role and probably his best, or at least it is in my opinion it is. He's more than creepy in his role as Dr. Phibes and it only gets better when he starts to talk with the help of a electronic device. But the thing that made the role so good to me was the fact that Phibes is basically the walking dead. There are scenes with him using human parts to put himself together than is one of the coolest scenes in the movie and really drew me in as far as the Phibes character goes.
Obviously if you've read the review up to this point I'm sure you can tell that the film is pretty expressive about morality and death, as those are the major bullet points that the film makes. It's an interesting story and puts you in a rather peculiar situation as the viewer. On one token you feel genuinely bad for Phibes as the man who has nothing to live for since his wife was taken from him. But at the same time it's pretty clear that Phibes is a madman bent on revenge for something that he could totally be misplacing his blame for. Either way, it's a very interesting story and it's even more mind boggling to me that they managed to work in a bunch of dark comedy and it works. It's a nice mixture and it plays as an even more original, enjoyable piece that way.
To be perfectly honest, The Abominable Dr. Phibes is one of the greatest horror tales ever told. It was way ahead of it's time to come out in 1971 and with Price playing the unforgettable role as Phibes you can't lost here. It's entertaining, surprisingly grotesque, it's extraordinary in everyway, and is a must have/must see movie for fans of horror. This one is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me and it's just another reason to pick up the new Vincent Price set released by MGM/Fox Home Entertainment.
Rating - ****
-Ed Demko
