Dr. Phibes Rises Again! (1972)

44% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
56% of users liked it
(5,986 ratings)

This sequel to the stylish 1971 melodrama The Abominable Dr. Phibes once more stars Vincent Price in the title role. Long believed dead, Phibes arises from a state of suspended animation, in search of the means to bring his deceased wife back to the land of the living. Phibes also wears a rubber… More This sequel to the stylish 1971 melodrama The Abominable Dr. Phibes once more stars Vincent Price in the title role. Long believed dead, Phibes arises from a state of suspended animation, in search of the means to bring his deceased wife back to the land of the living. Phibes also wears a rubber mask to disguise his own horribly disfigured countenance. (The giveaway: he never moves his mouth when speaking, and eats by applying his fork to his neck!) With the aid of the enigmatic, never-speaking Vulnavia (Valli Kemp), Phibes follows an Egyptian expedition, seeking out an ancient elixir of life and killing everyone who gets in his way. In the original film, all of the doctor's grisly but ingenious murders were motivated, and all were linked by a Seven Deadly Plagues throughline. In the sequel, Phibes kills whenever he feels like it, and utilizes an impressive array of death-dealing contraptions (one victim literally has his skin blown off his body by a high-powered electric fan). This marks one of the only films ever made to wrap with Vincent Price singing "Somewhere, Over the Rainbow." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Robert Fuest, Robert Blees
Written By: Robert Fuest, Robert Blees
Genres: Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Classics, Comedy, Cult Movies, Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1972 Wide
On DVD: Feb 20, 2001
Studio: American International Picture

Critic Reviews

Steve Biodrowski, Cinefantastique
With Phibes now nominally the hero, the audience is ... invited to identify and laugh along with him as he polishes off everyone in his way.
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
...falls prey to the familiar Curse of the Sequel -- it's a noticeably lesser, lazier work.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The bizarre murders devised are more repelling than scary or smartly done.
Matt Bailey, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
Competently made.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
A slightly campier reworking of the first film.
Scott Weinberg, Apollo Guide
Sequel to the camp classic makes is a stylish, funny romp.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tim S

Not nearly as memorable as the original, but not all that bad. There aren't quite as many death sequences in this film as there are in the original, which makes for long boring moments in between them. Some of Price's overdubs stick out like a sore thumb this time around,… More
Not nearly as memorable as the original, but not all that bad. There aren't quite as many death sequences in this film as there are in the original, which makes for long boring moments in between them. Some of Price's overdubs stick out like a sore thumb this time around, as well. The story is less interesting this time around, as there isn't quite as much to do with the original plot. It is certainly squirm-inducing in spots and there are some hilarious one-liners, but I think I prefer to see the original more than this sequel.
AJ V

A good sequel to Dr. Phibes, it's just as cool as the first movie, and Price gives another great performance as the good doctor. I enjoyed this movie, it's fun.
Greg S

Dr. Phibes rises from suspended animation and travels to Egypt seeking waters of immortality to resurrect his beloved wife; but another man seeks the waters as well, and Scotland Yard is on his trail again. If you liked the original DR. PHIBES, this one tries hard to give you more of… More
Dr. Phibes rises from suspended animation and travels to Egypt seeking waters of immortality to resurrect his beloved wife; but another man seeks the waters as well, and Scotland Yard is on his trail again. If you liked the original DR. PHIBES, this one tries hard to give you more of the same---campy black comedy mixed with bizarre characters, sets and (now gorier) murders---except this time there's no logic or sense in the script whatsoever.
Robert C

Dr. Fibes goes to Egypt! More amazing costumes, sets and cheese then you can shake a dagger at! Sadly the story is really week, but this is not really the kind of film you watch for the story now is it? If you enjoyed the first film, this is an enjoyable (but not quite as… More
Dr. Fibes goes to Egypt! More amazing costumes, sets and cheese then you can shake a dagger at! Sadly the story is really week, but this is not really the kind of film you watch for the story now is it? If you enjoyed the first film, this is an enjoyable (but not quite as good) sequel.
Lafe F

A great sequel! Dr. Phibes is back, stowed-away aboard an ocean liner, and he's got more gorey tricks up his sleeve for a group of scientists in Egypt, with imaginatively themed death sequences. A lot of fun. It's got great energy! You can tell Vincent Price is giving it his… More
A great sequel! Dr. Phibes is back, stowed-away aboard an ocean liner, and he's got more gorey tricks up his sleeve for a group of scientists in Egypt, with imaginatively themed death sequences. A lot of fun. It's got great energy! You can tell Vincent Price is giving it his love.
Dr Blood

Not a bad little campy horror film.
Michael G

Not as good as the first, but I'm sure a very effective drinking game could be made out of this movie.
Byron B

What were they thinking!? This kind of camp is not my style at all! Vincent Price only speaks through voice over and overacts horribly with gestures to indicate what he means as if they were going to leave his character silent. The torture devices may have inspired the dangerous… More
What were they thinking!? This kind of camp is not my style at all! Vincent Price only speaks through voice over and overacts horribly with gestures to indicate what he means as if they were going to leave his character silent. The torture devices may have inspired the dangerous rigs employed in the Saw movies, but the combination of comedy, bad effects, and ridiculous frights just left me repulsed.