Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972)

Very well executed

Good concept, poorly executed.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Three years after his last rampage, Dr. Anton Phibes is resurrected and seeks a map to Egypt that will give his wife life again, and discovering the truth about the mystical map alerts an old group of nemesis of his resurrection who race to Egypt to stop the madman's plans.It isn't the out-and-out classic the first one was, but this is still a great film regardless. Just as in the first one, one of the finest points is the overall feeling present as this is still a nice, campy ride. Seeing Price return to the role is a great deal of fun and the amount of screen time the film gives him causes that. We have a lot of great moments that just prove to be a collection of camp strung together because Phibes is now out and about in the world where his threat is greater. No longer stuck basing the deaths off the ten plagues of Ancient Egypt, he can let his imagination run wild, and this lets in some pretty ingenious set-pieces as he is now no longer bound by the confines of London anymore to spread his vision. That this is a road movie allows for greater and more elaborate deaths, which is a great advantage as instead of guessing when Phibes would attack here it's a where and with what, and that gives the film a little extra suspense. The film also has a great sense of set-design, and there are some wonderful sets here. The initial Egyptian design is one of the best, and it looks suitably forgotten in the ruins, and the final location sets are just simply breath-taking to behold. It certainly ends the film on a positive note that few other films in this particular style don't often do. This also goes along with the rather strong finale, where the action is quite fun and thrilling within the catacombs of the pyramid and really lets us side with him during this section of the film when it's needed the most. These here really hold it up as there isn't much really much wrong here. The biggest issue here is that the opening flashback to the original wasn't one of the best ways of getting a movie started. It spoils too much of the first film and didn't really do much to bring new information to light. The narrator was the final straw for the scene as it just completely ruined the mood of the scene. It's one of the few times that a film opens on a downward note. Just as in the first one, the fact that Phibes still talks with the voice-box is a disappointment. Even though it doesn't make sense to change it as it wouldn't really fit well with the movie, the fact that it's still here is a hurdle to overcome for Price fans. There is also something different in the campiness in this one over the first one that doesn't make it as fun. It's an indefinable quality, but it is there. It's still a fun, campy movie, but not like the first one.Today's Rating/PG-13: Violence.

Although Dr. Phibes Rises Again is set three years after the demented organist's original killing spree, in reality, it was only one year after the first film that this sequel saw the light of day, and one can't help but feel that it was a little too soon: once again, Vincent Price puts in a enjoyable turn as the skull-faced Phibes, but this time around, the movie is less focused, most likely as a result of having been rushed into production, and doesn't allow its star to shine as brightly.The contrived opening to the film sees Phibes resurrected from his tomb (there's some unconvincing mumbo-jumbo about the alignment of the moon to explain away this unlikely occurrence), only to find that his home has been demolished, and that a precious papyrus scroll, necessary to locate the mystical Egyptian river where he can bring his beloved wife Victoria (Caroline Munro) back to life, has been stolen by millionaire Biederbeck (Robert Quarry).After summoning his beautiful loyal aide Vulnavia (the scrumptious Valli Kemp), and retrieving the scroll (killing Biederbeck's manservant in the process), Phibes travels to the land of the Pharoahs, hotly pursued by the miffed millionaire, who needs the river's magical powers to sustain his life, and a pair of policemen, Waverley (John Cater) and Trout (Peter Jeffrey).This shambolic and logic free sequel lurches rather uncomfortably from scene to scene, delivering the bizarre murders and crazy production design one would expect, but never quite matching the atmosphere or originality of the original film. To confuse matters further, actor Terry Thomas returns, but as a completely different character, Phibe's assistant Vulnavia is back, but played by a different actress, and Peter Cushing and Beryl Reid, the film's biggest names (Price aside), are wasted in throwaway cameos that add nothing to the story.If you loved the first Phibes movie, this one will no doubt feel like a disappointment in comparison, but I reckon it's still worth checking out, if only for Phibe's ingenious traps (which make Jigsaw from the Saw movies look like a rank amateur), and the presence of the delectable Valli Kemp. However, for another truly brilliant dose of camp horror/comedy starring Price, my advice is to check out Theatre of Blood, which features the actor at his ghoulish best.

Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972)** (out of 4) Sequel to THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES proves that all the "lets make some quick cash" sequels of the 1980s weren't original in their attempts. This time out the events pick up three years later as the moon perfectly hits on the tomb of Phibes (Vincent Price) who rises from the grave in order to bring his wife back to life. The original film is a cult favorite but the sequel fails to live up to the same standards and in the end comes off as a real disappointment. We have the same lead and the same director so one wonders how this film came off worse but it really seems like no one knew what they wanted to make here. In some ways it seems the camp value is toned down and even the death scenes are toned down to a point where you're wondering if someone decided to take this picture in a different direction but didn't go all the way and instead they just delivered a watered down version of the first film. There are a few good things floating around here with Price's performance being great as usual. He has no troubled getting back into the role and delivers his charm perfectly. Robert Quarry is on hand as is Caroline Munro as the wife. Peter Cushing is wasted in a thankless role but I've heard he had to take a smaller role because of how ill his wife was at the time.

I like the Vincent Price Classics: Theatre of Blood and The abominable Dr. Phibes. What keep my most intention on both movies were the questions: Who is next? And how will Vince mange to bring them to death? Also it was quite interesting that Vince killed his victims after a certain scheme (After Shakespeare's Dramas in Theatre of Blood and the biblical plagues in the first Dr. Phibes). I cannot say the same thing about the second Phibes Movie. In the second Phibes he just kills the people because they disturbed him bringing his dead wife to life. It would have been much more interesting if he would have killed them after Egyptian Mythology or something similar. The killing scenes in the first half aren't that imaginative as in these other Vince Price Flicks. Later there are a few really extraordinary murders. Not quite sure but maybe the filmmakers of SAW also saw Dr. Phibes rises again. Two popular actors Peter Cushing and Terry Thomas have short cameos. It's a pity because I would have liked to see both as victims and not in such useless roles.Nevertheless also the second Dr. Phibes Movie is enjoyable and has some black British humour. Vincent Price with his stoic grimaces is wonderful as ever. Vulnavia is back and pretty as in the first Phibes. This time she is played by a different actress. The movie has a certain campy charm and some brilliant weird moments. If you like the first Dr. Phibes Movie and don't expect too much "Dr. Phibes rises again" will entertain you.