#176: Dr. Phibes Rises Again
Silly serial killer sequel gets even sillier
This review was originally posted to Twitter on August 31, 2019.
Initial release: July 5, 1972
Director: Robert Fuest
Remember how the SAW movies had like eighty bagillion sequels? The whole draw of the films was the bizarre ways people got killed off. All the way back in the 1970s, American International Pictures understood this too, which is why, in Dr. Phibes Rises Again, the abominable Dr. Phibes… rises again.
It’s three years after the events of the first film and the stars are right. Phibes, his initial mission of revenge complete, is resurrected, and goes off on a quest to Egypt, searching for a legendary river of life to revive his well-preserved wife, who’s not alive, but not quite dead either. However, during his long sleep, a long-time rival of his has stolen an ancient papyrus owned by Phibes, that had instructions on finding this mythical river. Thus, Phibes begins another reign of terror as he competes to be the first through the gates on the river of life.
As the archaeological expedition starts getting bumped off one by one, intrepid Phibes hunter Inspector Trout and his supervisor Waverly return from the first movie to track Phibes down — knowing full well that since they never found his body last time, he had to still be out there.
What follows is another goofy-as-shit horror comedy murder romp with an Egyptian theme. While there’s less rhyme or reason to the murders this time around (Phibes is mostly just bumping off an expedition one by one for whatever purpose) he’s no less a creative mad genius in his murder schemes. Price returns to the role as Dr. Phibes, and he’s almost more theatrical than last time. It’s as if he was made for this role, the culmination of decades of acting, much of it being an icon of horror films of the 1950s and 60s. Not bad for a character who can’t use his mouth.
With some decent camerawork, a fantastic score and a surprise cameo by Peter Cushing, this is a solid sequel to a cult classic with an ending that is altogether more satisfying than the original — and perhaps takes the edge off the sting of the franchise ending here.
