The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) Reviews

This “cult” classic was film well before its time. Price gives us one of his most memorable roles as the daunting Dr. Phibes bent on revenging the death of his wife. Coupled with moments of Se7en, the Abominable Dr. Phibes chills and entertains better than some recent films of a similar genre. I would like to comment the theme of this film, which is "love". Phibes commits these acts due to a love that cannot be stopped or snuffed. The powerful set design and Technicolor-esque photography are so bright, beautiful, and distinctive that it only aided in creating the creative world in which Dr. Phibes resided. The set design reminded me of a splash of Kubrick tossed together with a few shreds of Jim Henson’s darker eye. Add to this mix some fancy and modern camera work, enjoyable humor, and grotesque murders and you have built only a larger platform for Price to do what he does best.
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Abominable is right. This so called "horror" film would frighten an insecure six year old. Vincent Price's acting is pathetically bad, way too campy and over the top. He never was much of an actor. The film is stupid, cheap looking and badly dated.
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This movie was great. It was able to tell a story, mix in humor, and add an edgy touch of a thriller without millions of dollars of special effects. Vincent Price is an icon, and his talent is sorely missed in an era where special effects cover up for poor acting.
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