a plague on them all
Added 10/14/2009
Dr Anton Phibes (the late great Vincent Price) is out for revenge on those who's incompetence killed his wife Victoria (Caroline Monroe) with the help of his beautiful but mute assistant Vulnavia (VIrginia North).
In the firing line are the likes of Terry Thomas who plays Dr Longstreet a porn mad surgeon who suffers the curse of blood. Joseph Cotton plays Dr Vesalius, a part that was originally meant for Peter Cushing, but Mr Cushing's wife was very ill at the time and he had to withdraw from the filming.
All the deaths follow the plagues of Egypt: curse of boils, bats, frogs, the curse of blood, the curse of rats, hail, of beasts, the locust, of course, the death of the first-born, and then, finally, of darkness.
It is one of those films where you want the bad guy to win, and played to the campest level possible. Inspector Trout (Peter Jeffrey) and Sgt Schenley (Norman Jones) add extra comic relief to the film.
A great piece of escapism, that I remember from my childhood along with the Friday night Hammer Horror movies. Absolutely wonderful regardless of the fact that there are no extras
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A disturbingly different horror movie
Added 9/9/2009
When doctors begin dying in bizarre and horrifying ways, Inspector Trout (played by Peter Jeffrey) cannot begin to imagine what is going on. But, when he finds out that all of the doctors worked together successfully on the case of Victoria Phibes, he begins to have his suspicions. Victoria's husband, Dr. Anton Phibes (Vincent Price) is seeking vengeance for his wife's death, and this is a dish that he serves up cold indeed!
This 1971 movie is very hard to describe. At first glance, it appears campy and low-budget to the point of ridiculousness. However, what it actually maintains is a disturbing surreality that turns potential humor into actual horror. Also, Vincent Price puts in a stellar performance, making Phibes seem like the one terrifying reality in all of the brightly-colored surreality.
So, if you want to see a disturbingly different horror movie, one that is horrifying even when you don't think it should be, then get this movie. I highly recommend it. NOTE: Not for children!
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Vincent Price at his abominable best
Added 1/12/2009
The Abominable Dr. Phibes has become a cult classic over the years since its release in 1972. It is the quintessential revenge story of a great organist and truly mad genius who very cleverly extracts revenge against the surgical team who operated on his beautiful wife resulting in her untimely death. The art deco setting and the soundtrack are both superb. Fine cast, clever plot, Vincent Price at his horrifying best. Horror movie fans will delight in owning this DVD as a part of their collection.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Ancient history
Added 5/5/2008
I was a G.I. in the early '70s. In the enlistedmen's club on our forward airbase every Saturday PM, 100-200 drunken sailors and marines would gather and watch either Return or Abominable and cheer when someone got slaughtered or Phibes' well-endowed assistant appeared.
I don't know if I should watch it again. It's probably not as good in a contemporary setting.
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"Revenge is the Best Medicine..."
Added 4/18/2008
OK, I'm on a kick now. After reviewing The Gorgon, I just had to give some props to the immortal Vincent Price. This terrifying thriller was actually Vincent Price's 100th movie! A sad, chilling tale of a concert musician's wife who falls prey to a botched surgery, Phibes takes his revenge on the medical team responsible for her demise. He then unleashes a wave of atrocities in true fashion of the plagues of the Old Testament. From locusts, to rats, to a brilliant twisted climax that was unsurpassed for the era.(1971) The cinematography is cheesy and dated, maybe even a little psychadelic, but it just adds to how well done this eerie horror classic is. And silent and sexy Virginia North as 'Vulnavia' is a tasty addition to the story. This was another great chiller from Vincent Price, and another fond memory from the 'early days' of horror.
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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a plague on them all
Added 10/14/2009
Dr Anton Phibes (the late great Vincent Price) is out for revenge on those who's incompetence killed his wife Victoria (Caroline Monroe) with the help of his beautiful but mute assistant Vulnavia (VIrginia North).
In the firing line are the likes of Terry Thomas who plays Dr Longstreet a porn mad surgeon who suffers the curse of blood. Joseph Cotton plays Dr Vesalius, a part that was originally meant for Peter Cushing, but Mr Cushing's wife was very ill at the time and he had to withdraw from the filming.
All the deaths follow the plagues of Egypt: curse of boils, bats, frogs, the curse of blood, the curse of rats, hail, of beasts, the locust, of course, the death of the first-born, and then, finally, of darkness.
It is one of those films where you want the bad guy to win, and played to the campest level possible. Inspector Trout (Peter Jeffrey) and Sgt Schenley (Norman Jones) add extra comic relief to the film.
A great piece of escapism, that I remember from my childhood along with the Friday night Hammer Horror movies. Absolutely wonderful regardless of the fact that there are no extras
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
A disturbingly different horror movie
Added 9/9/2009
When doctors begin dying in bizarre and horrifying ways, Inspector Trout (played by Peter Jeffrey) cannot begin to imagine what is going on. But, when he finds out that all of the doctors worked together successfully on the case of Victoria Phibes, he begins to have his suspicions. Victoria's husband, Dr. Anton Phibes (Vincent Price) is seeking vengeance for his wife's death, and this is a dish that he serves up cold indeed!
This 1971 movie is very hard to describe. At first glance, it appears campy and low-budget to the point of ridiculousness. However, what it actually maintains is a disturbing surreality that turns potential humor into actual horror. Also, Vincent Price puts in a stellar performance, making Phibes seem like the one terrifying reality in all of the brightly-colored surreality.
So, if you want to see a disturbingly different horror movie, one that is horrifying even when you don't think it should be, then get this movie. I highly recommend it. NOTE: Not for children!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Vincent Price at his abominable best
Added 1/12/2009
The Abominable Dr. Phibes has become a cult classic over the years since its release in 1972. It is the quintessential revenge story of a great organist and truly mad genius who very cleverly extracts revenge against the surgical team who operated on his beautiful wife resulting in her untimely death. The art deco setting and the soundtrack are both superb. Fine cast, clever plot, Vincent Price at his horrifying best. Horror movie fans will delight in owning this DVD as a part of their collection.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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