However, his ancient papyrus map to the river has been stolen by Darius Biederbeck, a man who has lived for centuries through the regular use of a special elixir.

Phibes and his silent assistant, Vulnavia, enter Biederbeck's house, kill his manservant and reclaim the papyrus; they leave for Southampton to take a ship to Egypt.

He and Superintendent Waverley question shipping agent Lombardo; upon hearing the descriptions of Vulnavia, an organ and a clockwork band all being loaded aboard, they realize that Phibes is responsible.

Trout and Waverley pursue Phibes to Egypt, catching up to Biederbeck's archaeological party near the mountain housing the hidden temple containing the River of Life.

Phibes, having set up residence inside the temple, hides Victoria's body in a secret compartment of an empty sarcophagus.

Phibes unlocks the gate to the River of Life, boats Victoria's coffin through it and summons Vulnavia to join them on the other side.

AIP's plans were revealed to Price at a publicity event in England, when a publicist asked him how he felt about being replaced by Quarry.

"[5] Director Robert Fuest, production designer Brian Eatwell (creator of the film's noted Art Deco settings), and composer John Gale all remained from The Abominable Dr. Phibes team.

[4] Variety wrote that Vincent Price "delivers one of his priceless theatric performances" and that producer Louis M. Heyward had "lined up a first-rate crew of technical assistants".

[6] Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune gave the film one star, criticizing the "cheapness of the production" and the "unmotivated, mostly unimaginative" violence.

[7] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "Those who enjoyed the campy horror of last year's Dr. Phibes are in for a keen disappointment" and called the script "astonishingly slapdash".

The return of the abominable Phibes, his pallor flushed with the success of his initial screen appearance, is accompanied both by a larger budget and, more to the point, by a greater display of confidence at all levels of the production".

[11] In The Penguin Encyclopaedia of Horror and the Supernatural Kim Newman wrote: "Dr Phibes Rises Again lacks the gleeful insanity of the first film, but is far more achieved".

While it's not as splendid as The Abominable Dr Phibes, this sequel is mounted with lavish care by Robert Fuest, director of several classic episodes of The Avengers, and still scores high in the squirm and chuckle departments, thanks to Price's perfect timing and grandiose camp relish.