Review by Kevin ·
Synopsis
A journalist's daughter vanishes in Egypt without a trace. Eight years later, the shattered family is stunned to learn their daughter is still alive, but what should be a joyful reunion turns into a living nightmare. What comes back with her isn't quite human — and the curse she's dragging from the desert sands is ready to devour everything it touches.
Analysis
After the big flop that was The Mummy in 2017, and the domino effect that killed off Universal's planned Dark Universe, it seemed unlikely anyone would bet on the franchise again, especially since the character itself was never the most popular one. When it was announced that WB would go for a reimagining, there was reasonable skepticism — there wasn't much to celebrate beyond the 1959 version and the 1999 remake — but Lee Cronin ended up delivering a pleasant surprise. The film isn't free of controversy, since its vision could easily pass as a new Evil Dead given the way it tells its story and the extreme visual style surrounding it. For the first 30 minutes it doesn't feel that pronounced because the film focuses on family drama — Katie's kidnapping and the establishment of a dark, unsettling tone — but once the curse fully awakens, Cronin unleashes the same unhinged energy that made Evil Dead Rise a gut punch. Taking us through a series of events that progressively ramp up the tension and visual impact through the creature's near-rotten state, the film makes you genuinely worry about the people around it. That dose of explosiveness is necessary to sustain a second half that at times starts to feel heavy, since the progress on both the curse and the Egypt investigation moves slowly, to the point where it feels like it's needlessly stretching things that are actually simpler than they appear. But when the climax arrives, Cronin unleashes the full visceral potential of the concept.
Performances
The cast does quite well overall, and it's mostly a team effort to make every character work properly within this story. Individually, Natalie Grace as the possessed Katie delivers some very interesting moments — her physical and vocal transformation recalls the best possessed characters in modern horror. The father, played with vulnerability by an actor in fine form, carries the emotional weight of the film. The supporting cast delivers without standing out, but none of them feel off. You can feel Cronin's hand guiding actors through extreme states — screaming, crying, possession — without tipping into the ridiculous.
Final Verdict
4 skulls. I liked Lee Cronin's The Mummy. A risky take on a classic that gives you a good, tense time. Production-wise, this is undoubtedly top-notch work: the cinematography is superb, the art direction delivers, the score is a great complement, the sound work is spectacular, the effects are solid, and the makeup work is quite good. If you liked Evil Dead Rise, this one will blow your mind. If you were expecting the classic adventure mummy, better skip this one — this is pure horror, no holding back.
Final score
4/5 skulls
