Lee Cronin’s The Mummy Review: A Great Horror Movie That Isn’t Quite a Great Mummy Movie

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As a big fan of classic monster movies, I’ve noticed they’ve been really trying to make a comeback over the last ten years or so, hoping to recapture the magic of those early Universal horror films. Some of those attempts have worked brilliantly – the recent Frankenstein and The Invisible Man were fantastic! – but others, like Dracula Untold and the 2017 Mummy, just didn’t quite hit the mark. It’s funny, because even though The Mummy wasn’t a huge success, it’s actually influencing what we’re seeing now, as proven by recent developments.

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy isn’t connected to previous films, including the classic Universal Pictures movies or the Brendan Fraser series. Instead, it focuses on the Cannon family, who are thrilled to find their daughter after she’s been missing for nearly ten years. However, she’s discovered inside an ancient, 3,000-year-old sarcophagus, and unsettling events lead the family to question if she’s truly the same. While The Mummy is a decent movie on its own, it doesn’t quite capture the spirit of traditional mummy films.

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy Struggles to Thrive as a Mummy Movie

The movie’s central story—a daughter returns after being missing, but she’s changed—effectively examines its core ideas and is a major strength. However, this focus on psychological horror also creates some of the film’s biggest problems.

While the movie remains scary, certain choices make it difficult to view as a traditional mummy film. However, it’s important to recognize its strengths, particularly its compelling depiction of modern Egypt and how that setting enhances the story.

Many of these stories begin in Egypt during the 1930s, or quickly move away from it. Once the mummy-related events start, it’s as if the essence of Egypt travels with young Katie, manifesting as sand and scorpions that plague her family’s home in New Mexico.

The Egyptian setting, with its sand and sarcophagi, feels more like a stylistic choice than an integral part of the story. It distracts from what could have been a truly frightening premise: a modern mummy terrorizing a family anywhere in the world.

The Acting in Lee Cronin’s The Mummy Sells the Scares

Although Lee Cronin’s The Mummy isn’t a flawless monster movie, it’s still a good film, largely because of the strong performances from the actors. The main drawback is that the movie feels a bit predictable, as it follows a style we’ve seen before from the director.

The Cannon family’s house feels gloomy and cold, reflecting the sadness they still experience after Katie’s death. However, its large size and many hidden spaces also make it an ideal location for a haunted house – and a perfect backdrop for a horror film. The movie uses its camera angles to emphasize how overwhelmed the Cannons are by everything happening with Katie.

Jack Reynor, as Charlie Cannon, and Natalie Grace, as Katie, both give standout performances. Reynor effectively portrays a haunted father, driven by guilt and determined to uncover what happened to his daughter, utilizing his skills as a reporter to investigate. Grace, meanwhile, brings an unsettling, almost supernatural quality to Katie’s movements, making the character feel monstrous despite being a child.

It’s always thrilling to see characters genuinely frightened by supernatural events, and what’s especially interesting here is that the fear doesn’t come from typical mistakes. It stems from the sheer power of Katie, who’s become a mummy. This sets the movie apart – while many films involve ancient, cursed remains coming to life, this story feels fresh and modern, drawing inspiration from historical burial practices rather than relying on old tropes.

The movie does deliver some effective scares, but it feels too much like a remake of the original Evil Dead. While the gore and shock value work well, the bigger problem is that it doesn’t allow the film to establish its own unique style and feel, essentially preventing it from standing out on its own.

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy is a Fun Time But Misses One Key Detail

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy has many strengths as a horror film. It’s genuinely frightening and disgusting, with surprising twists that most viewers won’t anticipate. The scenes set in Egypt, which delve deeper into the story’s mythology, are particularly captivating. However, despite all these positive elements, something is still lacking, preventing Lee Cronin’s The Mummy from being truly exceptional.

The movie struggles because it tries to be both a classic mummy story and a possession horror film, and it doesn’t quite succeed at either. When the film focuses on the mummy itself – like revealing what happened to Katie or showcasing her disturbing powers – it’s strong. However, the possession storyline holds it back. Similarly, the genuinely frightening possession scenes, which feel like they come from a movie like Evil Dead, don’t quite fit within the traditional mummy genre.

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy is refreshing and stands out because it tries something different, even if its attempts at humor sometimes feel out of place. Strong performances elevate the film, making it worthwhile and contributing to the enduring appeal of classic monsters. While it excels as a possession story, it doesn’t quite reach the same heights as other iconic mummy films.

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy hits theaters on April 17th, 2026.

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2026-04-16 16:07