mad scientist – JOHNNY HAS THE KEYS

The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)—In a desperate attempt to reach his ill wife, organist Anton Phibes (Vincent Price) is horrifically disfigured in a car accident and presumed dead. Upon learning his wife has died, Phibes blames her surgeons and plots an act of elaborate revenge to punish them. With the help of his mute assistant, Vulnavia (Virginia North), Phibes murders the doctors one by one using bizarre methods inspired by the biblical plagues.

Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972)—The sinister Dr. Phibes (Vincent Price) has returned, determined to resurrect his deceased wife. Assisted by the beautiful Vulnavia (Valli Kemp), Phibes must retrieve a set of ancient scrolls to do so. The thief of the scrolls is Darius Biederbeck (Robert Quarry), an explorer and foe who also seeks immortality. Biederbeck travels to Egypt and Phibes follows, plotting the deaths of Biederbeck’s crew, making sure they are disposed of in unusual and gory ways.

05-04 THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES

In our first of five double-features this season, we cover these two chestnuts from the glory days of AIP (American International Pictures) and the deliciously campy Vincent Price. Join us as we reminisce about our initial encounters with these incredibly unique films and their overall place in the canon of horror classics. Listen as Johnny Has the Keys seeks retribution for those who have done us wrong, choreographing vengeance methods of biblical proportions alongside a dollop of fresh cheese.

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Both the 1956 and 1986 versions of The Fly tell the story of a scientist transformed into a grotesque creature after a common housefly enters unseen into a molecular transporter he is experimenting with, resulting in his atoms being combined with those of the insect and producing a hybrid creature. Both films feature brilliant, obsessed, tragic scientists literally in the right place at the wrong time. And like the aforementioned creature, both films are hybrids too… combining strong tropes from both sci-fi and horror.

Episode 03-11 THE FLY(S)

Welcome to our second double feature this season. And this one is a winner, folks—BOTH films deserve their spot in the hallowed halls of the horror/sci-fi canon. Join us as we discuss their casts, the variations in the story, and what key elements lift both films up solidly on their own. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys enters the lab of a formerly sane and reputable scientist, only to find a chamber of horrors released from the proposed advancement of humanity.