10 Horror Movie Villains You Didn't Realise Actually Won

6. Dr. Anton Phibes - The Abominable Dr. Phibes

Malignant
Anglo-EMI

A big ol' deep cut now, with 1971's Vincent Price-starring horror-comedy The Abominable Dr. Phibes. 

The film revolves around Dr Anton Phibes (Price), a bereaved man who seeks revenge on the medical team he blames for causing his wife's death during surgery.

Phibes subsequently sets out to kill every medic he believes to be responsible, and for good measure the kills are modelled after the Ten Plagues of Egypt, because why the hell not?

By film's end, Phibes has murdered all of his intended targets save for the head of the medical team, Dr. Vesalius (Joseph Cotton), who though surviving to the end of the movie has been left thoroughly traumatised.

By seeing so many of his colleagues die and almost witnessing Phibes kill his own young son, it's clear that he's going to be totally broken forever more.

As for Phibes? He appears to perish in the final moments, embalming and entombing himself with his late wife, only for sequel Dr. Phibes Rises Again to have Phibes return from the dead to continue his macabre ways.

Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.