The Reel Review
Eight years after being abducted while in Egypt, young Katie is mysteriously discovered inside an ancient sarcophagus and returned to her family in New Mexico. But the reunion quickly becomes a living nightmare when they discover that Katie is possessed by an ancient demon. Jack Reynor (Midsommar), Laia Costa and Natalie Grace star in this body horror/thriller from writer/director Lee Cronin (Evil Dead Rise).
A more apt title would be Lee Cronin’s The Exorcist, because this is not so much a mummy movie as it is a way too long, gruesome, trope-filled knockoff of the iconic 1971 possession horror. Despite a solid, big budget production, the film suffers from a ridiculous story, as the moronic parents inexplicably ignore that their daughter is levitating above her bed and running through the dimly-lit house on all fours eating scorpions and other creepy crawlies. Instead of getting Katie treated at a hospital, they decide to give her a pedicure. 😳
That said, the film does have its unsettling moments. The VHS footage of the mummification ritual is super creepy and May Calamawy, as the Egyptian detective investigating the mystery, gives a convincing performance, as does Natalie Grace as poor possessed Katie. But the endless gratuitous gross-out body horror and violence against children quickly wears thin, only slightly redeemed by a satisfying ending.
REEL FACTS
• Writer/director Lee Cronin says his screenplay was inspired by 1982’s Poltergeist snd 1995’s Seven.
• May Calamawy and May Elghety (who portrays the kidnapper’s daughter Laila) are the first Egyptian actresses ever to appear in a Mummy movie.
• Although set in Egypt and New Mexico, Lee Cronin’s The Mummy was filmed in Ireland and Spain.
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