Dr. Phibes Rises Again

PG

Released Jul 5, 1972

1h 29m

Horror

Comedy

List

59%

22 Reviews

Tomatometer

57%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

The sinister Dr. Phibes (Vincent Price) has returned and is once again determined to resurrect his deceased wife. Assisted by the beautiful Vulnavia (Valli Kemp), Phibes must retrieve a set of ancient scrolls before he can complete his plan, leading to a trek across Egypt. Among those crossing the villain's path is Darius Biederbeck (Robert Quarry), an explorer who seeks immortality. Phibes plots the deaths of his pursuers, making sure that they are dispatched in unusual and gory ways.

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David W

A great horror comedy and a worthy sequel to the classic Abominable Dr Phibes. It's lacks the plotting basis regarding the re-enactment of the seven curses but still manages to come up with some inventive murders. This time though Phibes has a worthy adversary played by the excellent Robert Quarry. As you'd expect, Vincent Price is again superb as Phibes and returning director Robert Fuest embues proceedings with a suitably sinister yet camp quality. The star studded supporting cast provide additional quality to what is already a classy production. Another hugely enjoyable horror comedy gem, a pity there wasn't to be another outing for Dr Phibes.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/09/24

Full Review

Audience Member

The late Vincent Price's second and final performance as Dr. Anton Phibes (American International Pictures originally planned a trilogy, but the third movie in the series never came to fruition.) is just a retread of its predecessor. The premise of the movie was not bad, but it just felt way too familiar because I have seen "The Abominable Dr. Phibes". Price, as usual, gives a very good performance as the title character and the late Peter Jeffrey once again does well in the role of Inspector Harry Trout. The movie also benefits from a very impressive production design. However as a whole, "Dr. Phibes Rises Again" is very mediocre and forgettable. One other thing, Vulnavia looks very good considering she had gallons of acid dumped on her at the climax of the previous movie (Yes, I know the original script did not include her but AIP insisted the character be in the sequel. The role was recast because Virginia North was pregnant at the time of filming.). However you can't totally dislike a movie with a cameo from the late Peter Cushing (Who was supposed to have a role in the original film but was forced to drop out due to a family emergency.), and I have to admit the final scene is very well done. In the end, "Dr. Phibes Rises Again" does have it's high points, but overall, it is not very good. The original version of "The House of Wax" is a much better film.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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martin a

A totally over-the-top film, that sees the wonderful Mr. Price rise after faking his death, only to travel to Egypt to bring his dead love back to life. lots of people get in his way and most of them meet a ghastly end. The sets are lavish and over the top, a film not to be taken too seriously but the King of Horror Mr. Price is outstanding

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Liam D

A disappointment This Comedy is the one thing that a horror shouldn't be that is boring and watch the first movie

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/17/21

Full Review

dave s

Dr. Phibes Rise Again, the sequel to The Abominable Dr. Phibes, is probably one of the more disappointing sequels ever made. Unlike the original, which was no classic but was at least campy fun, the second, and mercifully final, installment is nothing more than annoying. Whether it's Phibes pumping out irritating music on his organ or his mysterious sidekick Vulnavia waltzing about in her ridiculous wardrobe or the totally implausible murders or the fact that the characters, mostly Phibes, have to constantly explain the otherwise incomprehensible plot to the audience, the whole thing is an absolute mess. Never has such a short film felt so interminably long.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

matthew d

Art Deco designs, brutal murder, and dry British humor. Robert Fuest's horror black comedy Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972) is a fantastically bizarre and unabashedly campy picture starring horror master Vincent Price. Fuest takes psychedelic imagery, viciously plotted murders, and goofy humor into making his deranged sequel to The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971). This movie is nearly as good with strange killing after strange killing all for your entertainment. Robert Fuest and Robert Blees' writing and plot is nonsense and whimsical with the incomprehensible mythology of everlasting life, but the performances, one liners, and violence are all horror fun. The jokes are worth the watch like Dr. Phibes' meticulously arranged murders. Have a pleasant viewing experience with the truly out there Dr. Phibes Rises Again! Vincent Price is excellent as usual as the terrifyingly vindictive Dr. Phibes. His passive broken face gives way to his emotional voiceover for a creepy villain performance you will not want to miss. He gets to interact with all manner of organs and equipment. Robert Quarry is great as the selfish billionaire, who wants to live eternally, regardless of the sacrifices of those around him. Valli Kemp is playful in an eerie early 70's model kind of way as Price's devilish assistant, killing people with various animals and contraptions. Furthermore, Hugh Griffith is fun as the researcher Harry Ambrose and Peter Jeffrey is a riot as the English Inspector Trout. John Cater's idiotic Superintendent is hilarious too. Peter Cushing has a great cameo as the ship's ethical captain. Terry-Thomas has a funny cameo as the ship's booker. Fiona Lewis is lovely and believably concerned about her rich boyfriend ignoring her for immortality. Caroline Munro really had to just lay there as Victoria Phibes. Tristam Cones' editing is swift, keeping Dr. Phibes Rises Again to a mere 89 minutes that never drags. Alex Thompson's cinematography is as gorgeous and thoughtfully framed as cinema gets. You have to see how good these close-ups and uniquely framed wide shots are here. John Gale's score is epic and scary with a captivating beauty to his orchestral compositions. Trevor Crole-Rees' horror make-up is crazy for Vincent Price's scarred antagonist. All these ladies have gorgeous costumes and dazzling make-up for sure. In all, you should want to see how funny Robert Fuest's black comedy is alongside Vincent Price's horror masterpiece sequel.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Robert Fuest

Director

Vincent Price

Dr. Anton Phibes

Robert Quarry

Darrus Biederbeck

Valli Kemp

Vulnavia

Hugh Griffith

Harry Ambrose

John Thaw

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Vincent Canby

New York Times

"Dr. Phibes Rises Again" makes the usually dumb mistake of aspiring to be camp. Mysteriously, a lot of it works, probably because Robert Fuest, the director, knows just how long to hold an effect before it wilts.

Sep 26, 2018

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Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

A lively, spirited sequel to The Abominable Dr Phibes, which misses the Se7en-like rigour of a plot structured around the Plagues of Egypt but still manages to come up with a succession of gruesome, black comic death scenes.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 26, 2018

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Variety Staff

Variety

Vincent Price, as Phibes, delivers one of his priceless theatric performances, and Quarry is a properly ruthless rival who nearly matches Phibes in knowledge and cunning.

Mar 26, 2009

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Kristin Battestella

InSession Film

The intelligent, witty, and totally campy performances rise toward a fun, memorable conclusion...

Apr 19, 2024

Full Review

Tim Brayton

Alternate Ending

A retread that vaguely understands the appeal of the original in a mechanical sense but not an artistic one.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jul 4, 2022

Full Review

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

hampered by lots of post-production editing and squabbling that renders chunks of the film incoherent without voice-over narration and results in a film that moves in awkward fits and starts, lurching from deranged near brilliance to simple clumsiness

Rated: 2.5/4

May 10, 2022

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Synopsis

The sinister Dr. Phibes (Vincent Price) has returned and is once again determined to resurrect his deceased wife. Assisted by the beautiful Vulnavia (Valli Kemp), Phibes must retrieve a set of ancient scrolls before he can complete his plan, leading to a trek across Egypt. Among those crossing the villain's path is Darius Biederbeck (Robert Quarry), an explorer who seeks immortality. Phibes plots the deaths of his pursuers, making sure that they are dispatched in unusual and gory ways.

Director: Robert Fuest
Producer: Samuel Z. Arkoff, James H. Nicholson
Screenwriter: Robert Blees, Robert Fuest
Production Co: American International Pictures (AIP)
Rating: PG
Genre: Horror, Comedy
Original Language: English (United Kingdom)
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 5, 1972, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Runtime: 1h 29m

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