THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES was produced by James Nicholson and Sam Arkoff of the phenomenal American International Pictures. This studio is responsible for producing and distributing nearly 200 genre films throughout its 30+ year history. Though the studio no longer exists as a functioning entity, MGM now owns the rights to most of the A.I.P. library. For the last few years, genre fans bombarded MGM Home Video requesting that the old A.I.P. titles be released on DVD. In early 2001, the studio finally responded with their official kick-off of their Midnight Movies line. THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES, starring horror king Vincent Price, is one of the premiere releases, and MGM does the film justice by releasing it uncut in 16x9 enhanced widescreen.

Vincent Price stars as Dr. Anton Phibes, who holds degrees in musical composition and theology. Phibes also is a genius with acoustics, mechanical assembly, and devices of death. Besides the presence of the late, great Vincent Price, THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES stars Joseph (BARON BLOOD) Cotton as lead surgeon Dr. Vesalius, the main target of Dr. Phibes wrath. Peter (COUNTESS DRACULA) Jeffrey plays Scotland Yard Detective Trout who is assigned to track down Dr. Phibes. His partner in the investigation is Inspector Crow, essayed by Derek (HANDS OF THE RIPPER) Godfrey. Sexy Virginia (DEADLIER THAN THE MALE) North is Dr. Phibes silent assistant, Vulnavia. The victims include Terry (KISS THE GIRLS AND MAKE THEM DIE) Thomas as the naughty Doctor Longstreet. Alex (THE ASPHYX) Scott portrays Dr. Hargreaves. Susan (PEEPING TOM) Travers is Nurse Allen (and gets the film’s best death scene). David (EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN) Hutcheson plays Dr. Hedgepath. Maurice (PSYCHO CIRCUS) Kaufman gets a cameo as Dr. Whitcombe. And of course, Caroline Munro plays the beautiful corpse of Victoria Phibes. As you can tell, this is a great supporting cast with many familiar British faces.

A series of gruesome murders plagues Britain circa 1930. Inspector Trout and Inspector Crow are assigned to the case and learn that all the victims were physicians. They were all killed in a fashion that mimics the 10 deadly biblical plagues suffered by the Egyptians in the Old Testament--death by rats, bats, hail, etc. Inspector Trout discovers that all the dead physicians worked together with lead surgeon Dr. Vesalius in an unsuccessful operation on Victoria Phibes. They do research to track down her husband Dr. Phibes, and learn he perished when he plummeted over a cliff while racing to his fallen wife’s side. More doctors perish, leaving Dr. Vesalius the lone target of the unidentified killer. Inspector Trout places him in protective custody, even as he begins to search for evidence that Anton Phibes is still alive and seeking revenge. Scotland Yard can’t get to the bottom of the mystery, and the still-alive Dr. Phibes prepares to execute the grand finale in his theatrical revenge scheme. With the help of his beautiful mute servant Vulnavia, Dr. Phibes kidnaps the son of Dr. Vesalius, and uses him to lure the physician to his doom. Inspector Trout forbids Dr. Vesalius to go, but he knocks out Trout and heads for Dr. Phibes gothic mansion. Will Dr. Vesalius arrive in time to save the life of his son?

The plot of THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES is driven by a revenge motive. Dr. Phibes plans to kill the surgeons who failed to save the life of his wife by Biblical means. One victim is killed by bees (this death is not shown and only referred to in the dialog), another by rabid bats. The third doctor is killed at a costume party, when Dr. Phibes hands him a frog mask, which promptly crushes the man’s head in one of most surreal moments in the film. A rich doctor is frozen to death within the back seat of his car. The nurse who aided in Victoria’s surgery is killed in the film’s most shocking moment—eaten by hungry locusts. Another victim is besieged by rats on an airplane. None of the deaths are of your typical variety; no knives, guns, or traditional weapons. Neither are the deaths quick; they are all excruciatingly long and painful. Many of these death scenes are laden with black humor, allowing the audience to identify with the devious Dr. Phibes (you don’t feel bad for the victims). There is some primitive gore scenes that reinforce the comic tone of each killing, rather than just disturbing the viewer.

THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES pays tribute to the PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and other mad scientist epics of the Golden age of genre films. The narrative is structured in a traditional police procedural fashion. The difference between this and the popular Giallos of the time is that the audience knows who the killer is right from the beginning. There is no element of mystery. The suspense comes from how Dr. Phibes executes his victims, and from watching the clueless Scotland Yard detectives. The character of Dr. Phibes has some great eccentric touches. Within the chambers of his gothic mansion, he keeps a human-sized clockwork band to accompany his wild organ playing. He and Vulnavia dance like they are on vacation at the Monte Cristo Casino. Phibes burns a wax effigy of each victim shortly after he has killed them.

Robert Fuest alternates the tone between morbidly suspenseful and black comedy. There are moments when the two merge, like in the scene where a victim is impaled by the horn of a brass unicorn. Fuest masterfully controls this ambiguity that works throughout the film. THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES is free from any pretentiousness, and the supporting cast has fun with their situations. Fuest injects some wicked humorous moments into the film, including Dr Phibes carrying around a megaphone so he can be heard, Terry Thomas getting caught watching vintage porno films, and Trout and Crow arguing with their superiors. THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES features wild and weird cinematography. The set designs are true to the 1930s gothic sensibilities, yet the interiors of Dr. Phibes mansion are clearly psychedelic art deco designs of 1970s. These two contrasting styles work well together to give THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES a look you won’t soon forget. The character of Dr. Phibes turns murder into art, and the entire film resembles a work of art.

Vincent Price overcomes his character’s limited exposition. Dr. Phibes doesn’t say any thing until 30 minutes into THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES. When he does speak, it is with the help of an electronic microphone applied to his neck (similar to smokers who lose their voicebox). But Price dominates the film with his physical presence and maelstrom of emotions. While the supporting cast aims for Monty Pythonish camp, Vincent Price plays it straight further contrasting his performance from the rest of the players. He projects Dr. Phibes’ emotions with the use of his eyes, or exaggerated body movements. When he speaks it is gloomy comic book exposition, but never does his delivery resort to humor. Baron Blood himself, Joseph Cotton also rises to the occasion and matches Price’s intensity. Cotton’s performance is authoritative and never campy.

-  Victor Bryant