The Abominable Dr. Phibes
Rated NR
The early-'70s films of Vincent Price are agreeable blocks of cheese, more nostalgic than scary, surreal than creepy. 1971's The Abominable Dr. Phibes—in which Price stars as a mad genius set upon revenge against the doctors he believes failed to save his wife—and 1973's Theatre of Blood—see above, only now Price is an actor, his victims critics—are now little more than entertaining schlock. But just as Bob Clark’s A Christmas Story is now forever tied with the holiday season, Halloween wouldn't quite be the same without a yearly dose of Price. Of the two films showing this week, I'd have to give the nod to Dr. Phibes—if only for the bizarro dance that opens the film. But you could do worse than either, especially since the films are, when you get down to it, essentially the same movie.
By Bradley Steinbacher
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