...because the comedy must be funny yet the horror must be, well, horrible! This film manages to do both. The art designer was somewhat confused because although most of the fashions and all of the autos are 1920's vintage, some of the houses are decorated in early 70s style. The story is actually taking place in the 1920s.

The storyline opens with inspector Trout of Scotland Yard noticing that two surgeons have very recently died in odd ways - one killed by bats, another by bees. His boss basically tells him - poppycock! Don't waste your time on this. But then a third is killed by strangulation via a mask at a costume ball and he is sure something is up. His assistant finds the link between the three - Dr. Vasalius (Joseph Cotton). They visit him, and even while they are there a fourth doctor dies, also a former associate of Vasalius. Vasalius finds the link between the five of them in his case history files. They all worked on one case together -that of Victoria Phibes, who died on the operating table. Could it be her husband doing all of this? No, he died in a fiery auto crash in Switzerland racing to get back to England when he heard of his wife's illness. With no children and no surviving relatives, everybody is stumped.

Well, the audience sees who is doing this all along. It is Vincent Price in a diabolically campy performance as Dr. Phibes, out to avenge his wife's death. He is mute throughout the film - well, that is, his lips never move. He is assisted by someone else who is completely mute. Although she is never called by name anywhere she is credited as Vulnavia and given big credits as "Introducing Virginia North". Funny thing is, this was her last credited acting role! Vulnavia's fashion sense is one reason I was confused about the time period. She looks like a model circa 1970. Well, she actually WAS a fashion model circa 1970. Vulnavia is a beautiful girl who never speaks and seems to follow Phibes' every command even without him telling her what to do, all this for a bizarre recluse obsessed with his dead wife. The question never answered is WHY?

Well, there are lots of questions here, just don't let them get in the way of the fun because the outrageous impossibility of Phibes succeeding and the passivity of his victims, some of whom just sit and stare at him while he kills them in odd ways when just running away would thwart his plans, are part of the reason that this is a comedy. Then there is poor inspector Trout whose assistants are named Bass, Carp, and Bream. So this is being played as a farce right down to the names of the cops out to solve the murder.

You can watch it late at night or alone. It won't actually scare you, but you might feel like a bad person for laughing just a bit. Especially at the end when you finally get to hear Vulnavia's voice - screaming. Highly recommended.

Is this a great film? Absolutely not. But it makes no pretensions--it is intended as silly and over-the-top horror. It is super cheesy but fun! The story involved a weird genius who wants to exact revenge on those he blames for his wife's death. He also blames them for his horrible disfigurement which can only be hidden by masks and prosthetics. Plus, due to this accident he can't even talk without a goofy hi-fi system! This Phantom of the Opera-like man plots this revenge with his beautiful assistant who never talks and never really develops as a character. You might notice this quickly if it weren't for all the weirdness that overwhelms you. The mansion is chock full of audioanimatronic musicians, a grand pipe organ and cool gadgets.

The other reason you probably won't question all this is that your attention will be grabbed by all the weird ways he exacts revenge--and they are WEIRD!!! The are supposedly all inspired by the 10 plagues that were released on the ancient Egyptians, but the writers got several of them wrong! I'm surprised they didn't check a Bible or talk to a rabbi about this first. Oh well.

Anyways, the ways of killing these people were so crazy, so cool and so amazing that you might actually find yourself rooting for this nut case. Think about it--one person had their head eaten by grasshoppers and another was slowly drained of all their blood! And, if you haven't gotten enough senseless killing, there is a sequel!! This movie has "cult classic" written all over it!

FYI--There is a sequel. It's vastly inferior but still worth seeing.

Like "Theater of Blood" a film I enjoyed enormously, I watched "The Abominable Dr Phibes" not knowing what to expect. If I had a slight preference to which film I enjoyed more, I would have to say "Theater of Blood". But "Abominable Dr Phibes" is pretty much everything that made "Theater of Blood" such a joy to watch- it is classy, entertaining, clever and shocking, not to mention very creative. For one thing the film is very well made, the sets are wonderfully constructed and the costumes(especially Virginia North's- who is quite alluring here) were eye popping. The film is efficiently directed, and has a dark and clever script. The murders are very cleverly done, the murder with the fruit bats was quite chilling, and that's an understatement in itself. And I loved the music, the organ music at the beginning was quite sinister and haunting considering the fact I did find the first 5 minutes a little slow and strange, but the film is so entertaining and enjoyable I am past caring. The performances were excellent, Joseph Cotten does well, and Peter Jeffrey is very amusing as Inspector Trout. Terry Thomas is impressive in a small role. But there is no doubt in my mind, that horror maestro Vincent Price gave the best performance of the movie as the deformed maniac. He IS Dr Phibes as far I am concerned, with facial expressions that make the hairs on the back of your neck, a florid style, an inclination to ham and a sinister timbre to his voice whenever he speaks. Overall, unmissable, clever and entertaining with a perfect lead performance. 10/10 Bethany Cox