Friday, March 21, 2014

Movie review - "Dr Phibes Rises Again" (1972) **1/2

Considerably less good sequel to the original in part because Phibes motivation isn't as good - he revives himself and wants to revive his wife (why didn't he do this in the first film?) only to discover that the scrolls he had to do this have gone missing. So he enlists the use of his assistant (who died in the first film, something irritatingly overlooked especially as there was no need for it - he could have enlisted another hot assistant) and goes about knocking off the people who stole his scrolls using exotic Egyptian methods... when really his focus should be on helping his wife.

So the story isn't as logical or emotionally satisfying - the love Phibes had for his wife, which drove the first one, is muddier. There's also too much narration. But Price is in strong form and he has excellent adversaries in Robert Quarry (who wants to live forever) and Fiona Lewis, as his lover, and the movie gets better as it goes along.

The production design and costumes look impressive and it at least attempts to be smart. It would have been nice to see a third Phibes movie, if only because it gave Price such a great role.

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