The Abominable Dr. Phibes

1971

I never understood what the “camp horror” genre is. However, after seeing this film, I finally understand. I ALSO may just be saying this because I’m on a bucket-load of cold medicine right now (a bucket-load is what you have to take now since they took the good stuff out). If you’ve never heard of this film, let me give you the overview.

A world-renowned organist, named Dr. Phibes, loses his wife 4 years prior and has apparently spent that time plotting his revenge on the 9 surgeons who could have saved her. Unfortunately, he was also in a horrific car accident at the same time his wife died, rendering him “dead” in the eyes of the police. However, he wasn’t dead; he just turned into a horribly disfigured man who wears a Vincent Price mask when he goes outside.

About halfway through the movie, we find out that Dr. Phibes is NOT a doctor of playing the organ (albeit a creepy degree). Instead he has his PhD in theology, which explains his revenge: the 10 plagues that God cast upon the stubborn Pharaoh until Pharaoh finally said, “Fine. Go.” He begins to kill the doctors with boils and frogs and locusts. I won’t go into all the details, but it really wasn’t as gory as I thought it would be. Just ridiculous. And fun.

So here is the reason why it MAY be the best film I’ve watched so far:

1. Vincent Price.

2. Besides the organ, beautiful soundtrack.

3. Man impaled by catapulted unicorn

4. Vincent Price’s dancing.

5. Very well made wax effigies

6. Every death is accompanied with a lady playing a white violin

7. DID I MENTION THE MAN IMPALED BY A CATAPULTED UNICORN?!

The only thing that scared me the most was the final death scene which had “Over The Rainbow” playing over it. Vincent Price might as well have whistling it. In fact, if there is a movie out there where Vincent Price whistles a lot, I do NOT want to know about it.