Lee Cronin’s The Mummy is a new take on a classic monster [MOVIE REVIEW]

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy is a tale of an ancient curse that tears at the fabric of the family of a missing child. It’ll rip through your expectations of what love is worth when everyone else pays the price.

Charlie Cannon is an investigative reporter in Cairo, Egypt joined by his pregnant wife Larissa and his two kids. Their daughter Katie is playing alone in the garden when she is abducted by a mysterious magician. Eight years later, Katie is found alive inside a sarcophagus. What should be an amazing family reunion is rotted and desecrated by the ancient evil that is tied to Katie’s flesh. The only hope to save their daughter is hiding deep in the desert.

The film’s focus is on the family dealing with the struggles of having a recently disabled loved one. Katie’s arrival sours the joy of finding her, as her catatonic condition shrouds the family and puts them at the mercy of her episodes. This targeted the sense of hopelessness people face with medical uncertainty. It was a unique way to build fear and tension from a relatable experience. It reminded me of the Zelda plot line from Pet Sematary. The family is at odds with the desire to help their child against the damage it’s doing to them. It made me feel bad for these characters, who have to decide if they are equipped enough to help their daughter.

The makeup effects were phenomenal. Katie is withered, scarred, and shriveled. She always appears dry with crocodile-looking skin. It made it apparent that she had been isolated away the whole time she’s been gone. The way the skin ripped sent tingles throughout my body. It added to the family’s growing suspicion that her condition is supernatural. One scene that built tension with these effects was when Larissa is trimming Katie’s toenails. The way they tear off slowly was stomach turning. Her condition progressively deteriorates into a black gooey husk. It’s a perfect blend of practical and CGI effects.

The mystery of what happened to Katie was engaging. It starts at a dead end for the family, but pieces and conversations from the past start to draw them closer to the ancient evil’s secrets. Even though we know who did it, we don’t know how it was done. Once I saw the process of the curse, it felt like I witnessed a real crime. Detective Dalia’s plot line was thrilling to see her go so deep into the case that only the magic she’s been investigating can save her and Katie.

My issue with the movie is the untraditional way it’s telling a mummy story. Instead of being about an undead creature wreaking havoc, it goes for a possession story. I found it more comparable to The Exorcist and The Evil Dead. It was a compelling narrative about loss of self control, but it didn’t feel justified in calling itself the mummy. The parts that did take place in Egypt were great for showing the ancient curse still being present in a modern city. It’s a side that isn’t shown often when it comes to the country. The setting mainly taking place in New Mexico added to the identity crisis this movie has.

This film is a gooey, dark, and mystical story of a family’s love up against a buried evil. A re-imagining that offers a heart-pounding experience. It’s a skin-tearing watch that will make you never want to eat a deviled egg again.

8 grandma dentures out of 10.