NEWS

Loosely based on the titular horror icon, “The Mummy” (2026) sees a young Katie Cannon, played by Natalie Grace, taken and imprisoned in an ancient coffin while her father, Charlie Cannon, played by Jack Reynor, was working as a reporter in Cairo. Eight years later, after a mysterious plane crash, Katie is found somehow alive but barely responsive. Taken to be with her family, now in New Mexico, it is revealed she was used in a ritual to contain an ancient demon seeking to cause mayhem.

Despite the title, “The Mummy” isn't a mummy movie. Once Katie is discovered, the movie quickly becomes a demonic possession movie akin to "The Exorcist" and "Evil Dead." Imagery like sarcophagi and pyramids is replaced with crosses and more traditional demons. The story also takes a back seat to unnecessarily gross visuals - most of which are there just to be unnecessarily gross. Jack Reynor, as Charlie Cannon, is one of the few good things about the movie. Blaming himself for Katie's disappearance, Charlie does everything in his power to find out what happened and fix her current situation. Every scene Charlie is in sees him almost consumed by guilt and determination resulting in a very engaging performance.

One of the biggest problems with the film is the runtime. Clocking in at 2 hours and 14 minutes, it amplifies the other flaws of the film. Scenes are often either filled with unnecessarily gross visuals or dragged out far beyond what they should be. The long runtime of the film means more, and longer, scenes that draw the audience’s attention to either how bad or dull they are. A major bait-and-switch, “The Mummy” ends up being a completely different film from what's advertised. Not only that, but the film audiences get isn't good. With pointless visuals and dull scenes amplified by an excessive runtime, if audiences are interested in seeing this film, it is recommended that they wait until it is free.

4/10