Released by AIP in 71, this movie came out at a time when the horror movie landscape was going through some monumental changes. As a result, the movie occupies an interesting niche in both the history of horror and Price's career, as it signified the changing times.
Price had seen great success throughout the 60s making movies for AIP, almost all directed by the great Roger Corman and loosely based on the works of Poe. Price was typically the villain in these and most were variations of the same character, where he was an evil aristocrat with a master plan or dark secret.
By the end of the 60s that well had run dry, however, and AIP was seeking new roles and ideas for Price. His turn, a few years before this, in WITCHFINDER GENERAL, had shown an even more sinister side to Price. It was that side of him that AIP exploits here, using Price as a murderous doctor, seeking revenge for the death of his lost love. The movie would be the first in a string of films for Price, during the early 70s, that were similar (followed by a sequel, THEATRE OF BLOOD and MADHOUSE). In all, Price was involved in a series of murders that were typically thematic and very elaborate. These were not just knife to the heart murders, but the kinds that would make Jigsaw proud.
As mentioned, it wasn't just Price's career changing, but the horror scene in general. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD had brought gore to the masses. A year after this, Wes Craven's landmark LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT would be released. Horror was turning more violent, more gory, and much more bleak. The days of the colorful, campy horror movie were coming to an end and DR. PHIBES was possible its' last great gasp.
The movie brings quite a bit of camp into the mix. While not quite BATMAN TV series level, it's close as each scene goes for the maximum gusto without ever pushing into ridiculousness. The same cannot be said for the bad humor, though, which is probably my least favorite part of this movie. Almost an attempt to pull off a PINK PANTHER-ish vibe at times, the jokes just fall completely flat for me, personally.
The color tone and sets here are brilliant. Eschewing the rich, saturated color of the Corman/ Poe cycle and Hammer films of the decade before, this movie brightens up the palette, bringing a comic book vibe to it that is more than a little reminiscent of EC Comics. The blood is candy red, the liquids are apple green, everything just screams Crayola.
The murders in the movie are excellent. Each based (loosely) on one of the ten plagues visited upon Egypt, they are grand and elaborate, again bringing to mind some of the traps of the BATMAN villains and foreshadowing the sort of killings we'd see decades later in SAW and FINAL DESTINATION. My favorite is the "locust death" where Price bores a hole in the ceiling above a sleeping nurse, only to pour some bright, green goo over her head and unleash locusts to feed on the goop. When our detectives discover the body, she is little more than a skeleton, eaten alive by bugs.
As with most movies, it's Price that steals the show, though. An even more impressive feat considering that he cannot speak throughout the movie. An accident has left him dependent on voicing himself through a tube and phonograph horn, not unlike a modern voicebox. As Price never moves his mouth the entire time, his legendary hammy acting is called upon even more as he gestures wildly and emotes everything through eyes and actions.
Sadly, Price's career would wind down drastically in the years following this movie and horror would change quite a bit as movies like LAST HOUSE and Texas CHAINSAW came within a few years, leaving the innocence behind and bringing horror to a much more visceral level. In a lot of ways, this movie really is the last of a dying breed.
Price had seen great success throughout the 60s making movies for AIP, almost all directed by the great Roger Corman and loosely based on the works of Poe. Price was typically the villain in these and most were variations of the same character, where he was an evil aristocrat with a master plan or dark secret.
By the end of the 60s that well had run dry, however, and AIP was seeking new roles and ideas for Price. His turn, a few years before this, in WITCHFINDER GENERAL, had shown an even more sinister side to Price. It was that side of him that AIP exploits here, using Price as a murderous doctor, seeking revenge for the death of his lost love. The movie would be the first in a string of films for Price, during the early 70s, that were similar (followed by a sequel, THEATRE OF BLOOD and MADHOUSE). In all, Price was involved in a series of murders that were typically thematic and very elaborate. These were not just knife to the heart murders, but the kinds that would make Jigsaw proud.
As mentioned, it wasn't just Price's career changing, but the horror scene in general. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD had brought gore to the masses. A year after this, Wes Craven's landmark LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT would be released. Horror was turning more violent, more gory, and much more bleak. The days of the colorful, campy horror movie were coming to an end and DR. PHIBES was possible its' last great gasp.
The movie brings quite a bit of camp into the mix. While not quite BATMAN TV series level, it's close as each scene goes for the maximum gusto without ever pushing into ridiculousness. The same cannot be said for the bad humor, though, which is probably my least favorite part of this movie. Almost an attempt to pull off a PINK PANTHER-ish vibe at times, the jokes just fall completely flat for me, personally.
The color tone and sets here are brilliant. Eschewing the rich, saturated color of the Corman/ Poe cycle and Hammer films of the decade before, this movie brightens up the palette, bringing a comic book vibe to it that is more than a little reminiscent of EC Comics. The blood is candy red, the liquids are apple green, everything just screams Crayola.
The murders in the movie are excellent. Each based (loosely) on one of the ten plagues visited upon Egypt, they are grand and elaborate, again bringing to mind some of the traps of the BATMAN villains and foreshadowing the sort of killings we'd see decades later in SAW and FINAL DESTINATION. My favorite is the "locust death" where Price bores a hole in the ceiling above a sleeping nurse, only to pour some bright, green goo over her head and unleash locusts to feed on the goop. When our detectives discover the body, she is little more than a skeleton, eaten alive by bugs.
As with most movies, it's Price that steals the show, though. An even more impressive feat considering that he cannot speak throughout the movie. An accident has left him dependent on voicing himself through a tube and phonograph horn, not unlike a modern voicebox. As Price never moves his mouth the entire time, his legendary hammy acting is called upon even more as he gestures wildly and emotes everything through eyes and actions.
Sadly, Price's career would wind down drastically in the years following this movie and horror would change quite a bit as movies like LAST HOUSE and Texas CHAINSAW came within a few years, leaving the innocence behind and bringing horror to a much more visceral level. In a lot of ways, this movie really is the last of a dying breed.