Buy posters from this movie

The similarities to 'Dracula' are plentiful - an ancient evil is awoken, takes on human form and becomes obsessed with a woman he believes to be the reincarnation of his great lost love. They even cast the original Van Helsing (Edward Von Sloan) in an identical role, as the old professor piecing things together and coming to the aid of the young, handsome, but hapless hero.

What's striking then, is that apart from the first time we glimpse the mummy, it's never seen as the bandaged icon we immediately associate these films with. Instead, Imhotep is played as an old man, with a face as lined and as deep as the desert who ingratiates himself with the humans who have unwittingly set him free. It's thanks to the strength of Karloff's performance however, that this never becomes silly or risible, even if he does wear a fez hat. Although he's far more renowned for his performance in 'Frankenstein', his work here is equally good, bringing a deep sense of unease and power to the role.

The one scary moment is brilliantly done, as the ancient mummy awakens, with the only clue to this being a pin-prick of light and the smallest movement of Karloff's eyes.

Other than this, Karl Freunds direction, relies on a mix of expressionism and eastern mysticism to create a dream-like and haunting atmosphere. As Imhotep works his insidious ways, the film delves into strangeness upon strangeness, with the use of flashbacks to Imhotep's previous life and the strong theme of reincarnation to give 'The Mummy' it's haunting atmosphere. It may be a far cry from the dark dungeons of Dracula, but it's equally, if not more, effective.

The notion of a lumbering mummy strangling the life out of unwitting graverobbers was one that would only be explored in the sequels like 'The Mummy's Tomb' and 'The Mummy's Hand' and, yes, 'Abbot and Costello meet The Mummy'. The original however, is a creature of a different cloth and is much more of a ghost story than a horror film. Nevertheless, modern horror still owes a great deal to it, so if you've forgotten about it lately why don't you do the decent thing and give it a re-awakening?

link directly to this review at https://www.efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=11058&reviewer=293
originally posted: 04/12/05 23:13:25
 printer-friendly format