The Abominable Dr. Phibes and it’s sequel, Dr. Phibes Rises Again, are certified cult horror classics. Vincent Price attacked the role of the iconic doctor with such ferocious glee, and you couldn’t have Phibes without Price, or so it would seem.
Rue Morgue is reporting that Phibes is getting the remake treatment by its original creator William Goldstein, called Forever Phibes, and that Malcolm McDowell will be taking on the role. I for one love Malcolm McDowell in every role I’ve seen him in, but does he have what it takes to fill Vincent Price’s shoes? Only time will tell. Here’s the film’s synopsis:
The year is 1925, and doctors have been perishing in disturbing and bizarre ways.
Four years ago, while rushing to his wife’s side, Dr. Anton Phibes, a brilliant organist with expertise in all manner of musical and scientific disciplines crashed his car, and was believed to have been killed. In truth, the horrifically burned man had survived, only to learn of the tragic death of his wife, Victoria Phibes – after only minutes on the operating table she was pronounced dead.
In total despair, Phibes disappears into seclusion, swearing the ultimate vengeance upon those he perceives to be responsible for the death of his only love – “Nine killed you nine shall die and be returned your loss, nine times nine.”
At first, the only connections between them seem to be that the manner of their death is related in some way to one of the ten plagues of Egypt as outlined in the Old Testament, and multiple reports describing a silent, beautiful woman was nearby when they died.
Yet there is one more connection between the doctors; a certain failed operation, come back to haunt them….
Phibes Forever so far doesn’t have a release date.
I truly hope that the sequels will be as good as the originals.