Dr. Phibes Rises Again! (1972)

With the moon and stars in perfect alignment, Doc Phibes awakens from his “suspended animation” from the end of the first film, and, along with his trusty sidekick Vulnavia, is off to Egypt (along with his Clockwork Band) in search of the legendary “River of Life”. Phibes plans to resurrect his dead darling Victoria in the river and live happily ever after for all eternity. However, there’s just one problem. Arch nemesis Biderbeck (Robert Quarry) has stolen Phibes ancient map, planning to secure immortality for himself and resulting in Phibes and Biderbeck racing against each other to find the mysterious river. What results is what I like to call “Dr. Phibes V.S. Count Yorga”, with Phibes dispatching Biderbecks crew in the same trippy murder sequences found in the first film, all amidst a truly surreal atmosphere of ancient Egypt and early 70’s camp.

“Return of Dr. Phibes” is essentially more of the same from the first film, though in a perhaps lesser way. Vincent Price once again portrays Phibes, delivering yet another excellent performance in both subtlety (hand and face movement) as well as in over the top camp. Price definitely makes the film, no doubt about that. And, while Phibes is definitely one crazy bastard, in true “anti-hero” fashion you’ll still find yourself rooting for him the whole way, especially since Robert Quarry’s character in Biderbeck is such an arrogant asshole. The Scotland Yard team also returns, chasing Phibes through the desert and offers up a sense of continuity from the first flick as well as delivering some decent bits of comedy. Though the first “Phibes” was hardly a logical film especially where the murder sequences were concerned, here you will have to suspend disbelief to an even higher degree. Phibes methods of dispatching various players in Biderbecks camp, while highly illogical, are still entertaining and even more vicious than the first film, in the sense that those who are killed are really innocent individuals making the deaths even more sadistic on Phibes part. While it does rehash much from the first film, Phibes fans will still have a good time with this one.