By Juan Markos
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 08/02/2026
Growing up, the Mummy movies starring Brendan Fraser were some of my favorites. The public fascination with the “Curse of the Pharaohs” followed the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, and it inspired the 1932 film The Mummy. This classic film starred Boris Karloff, Zita Johann, and David Manners.
In 1999, The Mummy was reinvented and in color. Just like the original, there’s an ancient Egyptian priest named Imhotep who is buried alive for attempting to resurrect his secret love. An archaeological dig uncovers the mummy and its curse, bringing Stephen Sommers’ vision to life in an action-packed family film. Sommers followed this with a sequel, The Mummy Returns, and a third installment titled The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Directed by Rob Cohen, which is set in 1940s China. While this last film wasn’t my favorite, it opened the door for further reimaginings of mummy films.
We should also remember the spin-off franchise, The Scorpion King, which led to three additional films. All six of these movies were family-friendly, captivating audiences with tales of ancient curses and lore tied to King Tut’s sensational tomb. The Mummy is reminiscent of iconic characters like Batman, Superman or King Kong; Hollywood and major studios are always considering creating a new version.
Did you watch Tom Cruise’s 2017 film, The Mummy? While it’s not one of my favorites, it’s a fun watch, as Tom Cruise is always entertaining. However, I find that Brendan Fraser’s Mummy films are far superior; they were fun, funny, and served as an homage to the original 1932 film.
Then there’s Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, which offers a completely different take. Unlike any other mummy film we’ve seen before, Cronin’s version tosses out traditional elements and reimagines the entire story. This film is not family-friendly; it’s a supernatural horror film that focuses on family trauma. Moving away from the action-adventure themes of prior films, it introduces gut-wrenching horror.
The story follows a journalist and his family living abroad in Egypt, where their daughter is groomed and trafficked by an unknown person. After eight years, they find her buried alive in a two-thousand-year-old sarcophagus. Initially, the family is compassionate towards her odd behavior, unaware that she is not just traumatized but possessed by an ancient demon. The film is dark and eerie, with moments that had me gasping.
Lee Cronin’s The Mummy features multiple layers and intertwined narratives: an investigation into the original kidnapping and the shocking discoveries that follow. Cronin, who previously directed Evil Dead Rise, The Hole in the Ground, and Ghost Train films that tackle similar themes brings a unique perspective to this project. There are scenes in The Mummy that remind me of Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead, showcasing twisted, animated-type horror that is both grotesque and unimaginable.
The film stars Jack Reynor, whom I’ve admired since Midsommar, alongside Laia Costa, May Calamawy, Veronica Falcón and Natalie Grace. Produced by James Wan and Jason Blum, I genuinely enjoyed this take on The Mummy, featuring themes of family trauma, disturbing traditions, and Exorcist-like possession. I recommend watching Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, which is currently streaming on HBO Max. Give it a try tonight!
