The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) ****

Robert Fuest's The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) is a frighteningly fun and campy horror comedy, filled with deliciously dark humor, strikingly bold Art Deco design, creative costumes, and exquisitely elaborate murder set pieces (which telegraph the Saw films).

Vincent Price, as the titular organ-grinding abomination, wreaks wonderful Old Testament-inspired vengeance on the medical team he believes took his beloved wife Victoria from him. Phibes is aided by his beautiful, silent, and, most importantly, "fashionable," violin-touting partner in crime, Vulnavia (Virginia North). The tone and humor remind me of another (admittedly less grisly but still pretty dark) cult classic 1971 movie, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, which this picture shares an actor with (Aubrey Woods).

Recommended for fans of The Phantom Of The Opera (1925) (review), The Masque Of The Red Death (1964), and Tales From The Crypt (1972) (review).

Fun fact #1: Terry-Thomas, who plays a doctor that watches a stag film with a lady and a snake, was the voice of Sir Hiss in Disney's 1973 animated Robin Hood (blogpost).

Fun fact #2: Caroline Munro (of 1977's The Spy Who Loved Me (blogpost) and 1980's Maniac (review) fame) portrays Victoria (uncredited) in photographic form.

Robert Fuest Feature Films Ranked