R.I.P. Robert Fuest, director of Abominable Dr. Phibes and The Devil’s Rain

Last Updated on July 23, 2021

Always a sad day when we lose a genre legend; that’s the case today as we learn that Robert Fuest has passed away at the age of 84.

Fuest directed the great Vincent Price horror-comedy THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES and its sequel DR. PHIBES RISES AGAIN. In addition, he helmed AND SOON THE DARKNESS (which was remade a few years ago with Amber Heard), REVENGE OF THE STEPFORD WIVES, and the wild 1975 horror freakout THE DEVIL’S RAIN, which stars Ernest Borgnine, Tom Skerritt and William Shatner. (Seriously, check that one out if you’ve never experiences it.) He also worked on several TV shows and specials.

Fuest grew up in London and served time in the Royal Air Force. He eventually moved into copywriting, with an eye towards getting into the movie business. In the late 1950s he joined the art department of Associated British Television, and became the art director for the legendary TV series “The Avengers” (1961). After two producers of the series, Brian Clemens and Albert Fennell, wanted to move into movies themselves, and chose Fuest to direct their debut effort, AND SOON THE DARKNESS… The rest, as they say, is history. (Must give credit to IMDB for that information.)

R.I.P. Robert Fuest.

ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES trailer