Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
Not the Mummy movie you know. Not the Mummy movie you want. But undeniably the Mummy movie that will make you squirm.
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🎬 Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Director/Writer | Lee Cronin (Evil Dead Rise) |
| Producers | James Wan, Jason Blum |
| Cast | Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, Natalie Grace, May Calamawy, Billie Roy |
| Release Date | April 17, 2026 |
| Runtime | 134 minutes |
| Budget | Secret (but it's a Blumhouse production, so likely modest) |
| Metacritic | 47/100 |
| IMDb | 6.5/10 |
| Our Rating | ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5) |
📖 The Plot: Where Even the Sarcophagus is Confused
The Setup (Or: How Many Prologues Can One Movie Have?)
Let's start with plot. Actually, let's start with finding the plot. Lee Cronin's The Mummy opens with… a prologue about a random couple in a farmhouse who find a sarcophagus in their basement . They are never seen again.
Then, we jump to the actual story . An American family—journalist Charlie Cannon (Jack Reynor), his pregnant wife Larissa (Laia Costa), and their two young children—is living in Cairo. During a sandstorm, their 8-year-old daughter Katie disappears . The police are useless. The family is devastated.
Eight years pass. The Cannons have relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and have a new daughter, Maud. Then, in the most absurdly convenient plot point imaginable, Katie is discovered alive—inside a 3,000-year-old sarcophagus at a plane crash site .
She returns home: scarred, catatonic, and occasionally croaking like a dying frog. She eats bugs, crawls through air vents, and glares at her family with eyes that say, "I'm going to make your life a living hell."
But is the family concerned? Do they seek professional help?
Of course not. That would be logical. Instead, they decide that what this clearly possessed child needs is "time and affection" . Lock the doors. Hide the knives. And pray the babysitter has good life insurance.
The Possession (Or: This Is Just Evil Dead with Bandages)
What follows is 90 minutes of standard demonic possession beats, cribbed directly from The Exorcist, Hereditary, and Cronin's own Evil Dead Rise .
Katie isn't a Mummy. There are no ancient curses (well, there is a vague "Nasmaranian" backstory that goes nowhere). There is no Imhotep. There are no scarabs eating people's faces. Instead, we get:
A girl with black sludge dripping from her mouth
Walls oozing mysterious liquids
A creepy video tape (because it's 1998, apparently)
And more split-diopter shots than a Rian Johnson film festival
The MacGuffin (Or: Wait, Who is the Main Character?)
Just when you think the story is about the Cannons, enter Detective Dalia Zaki (May Calamawy), a hard-boiled Cairo investigator who has been obsessively tracking Katie's case for eight years . She's the film's most competent, interesting character—and she's barely in it.
Zaki discovers the truth: Katie was kidnapped by a woman who practices black magic, then sold into human trafficking, then cursed, then… something about a 3,000-year-old sarcophagus. Honestly, by the third act, the plot has more holes than Katie's skin.
The Gore (Or: The Real Reason You're Here)
Let's be honest: you're not reading this for the plot. You're reading this because you want to know if Lee Cronin's The Mummy is as disgustingly, gloriously gory as Evil Dead Rise.
Yes. More, even.
Cronin doesn't hold back. Bodies are:
Torn apart
Melted into pools of acid
Covered in black bile
Shredded, stabbed, and generally deconstructed with a gleeful malice that would make Sam Raimi blush
One particularly gnarly sequence involves Katie methodically peeling away layers of her own decaying flesh with a disturbing calm . Another features a found-footage "snuff film" of her possession that is genuinely upsetting .
If you love gore, you will be satisfied. If you don't, you will be running for the exit.
The Ending (Or: The Anti-Climax)
After two hours of torture, the film finally remembers it's called The Mummy. The possession is resolved through… a ritual involving… a knife… and a sacrifice… and… honestly, your brain will have checked out by then.
The final 20 minutes are "underwhelming" . The resolution feels rushed. And the characters' decisions become so illogical that you'll start rooting for the demon just to put them out of their misery.
Four words: The funeral scene. If you know, you know. If you don't, prepare to be baffled.
🎭 Performances: Diamonds in the Rough
Natalie Grace (Katie): The standout. She contorts her body into shapes that seem physically impossible—a "grotesque physicality" that channels Linda Blair without becoming a copycat . Her performance is genuinely unsettling, even when the script fails her.
May Calamawy (Detective Zaki): Criminally underused. She's the only character who behaves like a rational human being, and she deserves her own spin-off . "CSI: Cairo," anyone?
Jack Reynor (Charlie): Stuck playing a passive, reactive father who spends most of the film staring in horror. He's fine, but "fine" isn't enough to salvage the character's terrible decisions.
Billie Roy (Maud): The youngest daughter steals every scene she's in. She brings warmth, humor, and energy to a film desperately lacking all three . When she's on screen, you remember why you liked movies in the first place.
Verónica Falcón (Grandmother): Someone forgot to tell her she wasn't in a parody. Her performance is so over-the-top that it's almost camp—but almost isn't enough to make it fun .
🎥 Direction: The Cronin Touch
Lee Cronin knows horror. The Hole in the Ground and Evil Dead Rise proved that. Here, he brings his signature:
Relentless tension that builds and builds—until it doesn't
Practical gore that looks gross and feels real
Split-diopter shots that keep both foreground and background in focus—apparently using them every 90 seconds
But Cronin's ambition exceeds his grasp. The pacing is sluggish. The 134-minute runtime feels like an endurance test . And the tonal shifts—from family drama to possession horror to torture porn—are jarring.
He's trying to make something "elevated" and "personal"—a meditation on parental guilt and the fear of losing a child. But those themes get buried under gallons of black bile and screaming matches.
The result is a film that is neither scary enough to be great horror, nor deep enough to be great drama. It exists in a uncomfortable middle ground—like a mummy that refuses to stay in its tomb, but also refuses to do anything interesting once it's out.
🔍 Critical Analysis: What Works and What Doesn't
What Works ✅
1. The Practical Gore is Exceptional
Cronin's team deserves awards for makeup and effects. The decay on Katie's body—her peeling skin, her yellowed fingernails, her rotting teeth—is disgusting in the best way . When she vomits black sludge, you will cringe. When she pulls out her own toenail, you will look away. That's the point.
2. Natalie Grace is Terrifying
A lesser actress would have turned Katie into a cartoon. Grace makes her feel like a real victim—a child who has been hollowed out and replaced with something ancient and hungry . Her physicality is astonishing: she moves like a spider, talks like a broken music box, and stares like she's watching you from the inside of your own skull.
3. The Opening Act is Intriguing
For the first 45 minutes, Lee Cronin's The Mummy genuinely hooks you. The mystery of Katie's disappearance, the investigation in Cairo, the family's grief—it's all compelling . You want to know what happened.
4. Gorgeous Cinematography
Dave Garbett's camera prowls through the Cannon house like a predator, finding dread in every corner . The use of shadows, reflections, and off-kilter framing creates a constant sense of unease—even when nothing is happening.
5. One of the Year's Most Talked-About Horror Films
Like it or hate it, you'll be discussing it. The film has already sparked intense debate among horror fans, with some calling it a masterpiece and others a disaster . That's the mark of a film that takes risks.
What Doesn't Work ❌
1. It's Barely a Mummy Movie
If you're expecting Brendan Fraser, bandages, and booby traps, turn back now. This film has nothing to do with traditional mummy mythology. No Imhotep. No Anck-su-namun. No reincarnated lovers. The "mummy" is just a demon possessing a girl—and that demon could have been swapped for any other supernatural entity without changing anything .
It's a possession film wearing a mummy costume.
2. The Pacing is Exhausting
At 134 minutes, The Mummy is too long for what it is . The middle section drags interminably, with the same beats repeating: Katie does something creepy → family reacts with denial → someone dies → repeat.
By the time the climax arrives, you're too exhausted to care.
3. Characters Make Stupid Decisions
Horror movies always require some suspension of disbelief. But The Mummy pushes this to its breaking point. The Cannons repeatedly ignore obvious warning signs, refuse to seek help, and make choices that no rational person would make .
The grandmother's reaction to the possession is so inexplicable that it borders on parody. The family's insistence on "giving Katie time" while she's literally eating bugs off the floor is... a choice.
4. The Third Act Falls Apart
What starts as a compelling mystery devolves into a formulaic exorcism. The final 20 minutes introduce new rules, new characters, and new plot points that feel rushed and unearned . The resolution is confusing, unsatisfying, and leaves major questions unanswered.
5. Too Mean-Spirited
Violence is one thing. Mean-spiritedness is another. The Mummy delights in cruelty—not just to the characters, but to the audience . The gore isn't earned; it's just thrown at you. The characters suffer not because the plot demands it, but because the director seems to enjoy watching them suffer.
By the end, you're not scared. You're just... tired.
6. The Title is Arrogant
Putting your own name in the title of a movie is a bold move. Wes Craven earned it. John Carpenter earned it. Lee Cronin? He's made two good horror films. The Mummy is not his crowning achievement .
🧟♂️ How It Compares to Other Mummy Movies
| Aspect | The Mummy (1999) | The Mummy (2017) | Lee Cronin's The Mummy (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genre | Action-Adventure | Action-Horror | Pure Horror |
| Tone | Fun, pulpy | Serious, gritty | Bleak, mean-spirited |
| Mummy | Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo) | Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella) | A demon possessing a girl |
| Hero | Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser) | Nick Morton (Tom Cruise) | No hero—just victims |
| Gore Level | None | Mild | Extreme |
| Fun Factor | High | Low | Zero |
| Connection to Egypt | Integral | Minimal | Minimal |
Verdict: If you want fun, watch the 1999 version. If you want bleak, watch this one. Just don't confuse the two.
📊 What the Critics Are Saying
Metacritic Score: 47/100 (Mixed or Average)
IMDb Score: 6.5/10
📺 Where to Watch
Theaters: April 17, 2026 (US) / April 16, 2026 (Australia) / April 15, 2026 (International)
Streaming: Not yet announced (Blumhouse films typically hit VOD after 30-45 days)
IMAX: Yep—for all the gore in glorious large format
India Release: Currently in theaters (limited shows)
🎯 Final Verdict: Should You Watch It?
Watch It If:
You're a hardened horror fan who loves practical gore and doesn't mind a slow pace
You appreciated Evil Dead Rise and want more of Cronin's brutal, unrelenting style
You're curious about the most controversial horror film of 2026
You want to see Natalie Grace deliver a genuinely terrifying performance
You have a strong stomach and a high tolerance for on-screen suffering
Skip It If:
You're expecting a Brendan Fraser-style adventure (you will be bitterly disappointed)
You're looking for jump scares and fast pacing (this is a slow-burn endurance test)
You have low tolerance for gore (the violence is relentless and graphic)
You need logical character decisions (prepare to scream at the screen)
You want a film that respects its source material (this is a mummy movie in name only)
The Bottom Line
Lee Cronin's The Mummy is a bizarre, frustrating, and occasionally brilliant film that tries to reinvent a classic monster and ends up becoming something else entirely.
It's not a good Mummy movie. It's barely a Mummy movie at all. But as a piece of extreme horror—a brutal, unflinching, deeply unpleasant portrait of a family torn apart by supernatural forces—it has its moments.
The performances are strong, especially from Natalie Grace and May Calamawy. The gore is exceptional. And Cronin's direction shows flashes of genuine genius.
But the film is too long, too mean, and too confused about its identity. It doesn't know if it wants to be a family drama, a possession horror, or a torture-porn splatterfest—so it tries to be all three and fails at each.
For horror fans who love Evil Dead, Hereditary, and The Exorcist, this is worth a watch. Just lower your expectations. Way down. Under the floorboards.
And maybe bring a barf bag.
Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
"Lee Cronin's The Mummy is the film equivalent of opening a sarcophagus: you might find treasure, but you're more likely to get cursed."
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this connected to the Brendan Fraser Mummy movies?
A: No. Not at all. Different studio, different universe, different everything.
Q: Is the mummy actually a mummy?
A: Technically? There's a sarcophagus. There's an ancient curse. There's Egypt. But the "mummy" itself is more of a possession entity.
Q: How gory is it?
A: Very. Think Evil Dead Rise but with more... fluid. If you can't handle graphic violence, skip it.
Q: Is it scarier than 2017's The Mummy?
A: Significantly. The 2017 film was an action movie that failed. This is a horror movie that succeeds—at least at being gross.
Q: Where can I watch it in India?
A: The film is currently in theaters. Check your local listings for showtimes.
Q: Is there a post-credits scene?
A: No. Once the credits roll, you can escape.
Have you seen Lee Cronin's The Mummy? Did you love the gore or hate the possession? Did you even find the mummy? Let us know in the comments below! 💬
Lee Cronin's The Mummy (2026) – हिंदी समीक्षा: यह ममी नहीं, एक पोजेशन मूवी है! 🇮🇳
रेटिंग: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
"जो लोग ब्रेंडन फ्रेजर की ममी देखकर बड़े हुए हैं, उनके लिए यह झटका होगा। जो लोग एक्सट्रीम हॉरर चाहते हैं, उनके लिए यह तोहफा है।"
ली क्रोनिन की द ममी वह फिल्म नहीं है जिसकी आप उम्मीद कर रहे थे। इसमें न तो रेत के तूफान में उड़ते हुए शहर हैं, न ही इम्होटेप नाम का कोई खलनायक। इसके बजाय, यह एक पोजेशन हॉरर है—द एक्सोरसिस्ट और हैरिडिट्री की याद दिलाने वाली, लेकिन उससे भी ज्यादा खूनी और बेरहम .
कहानी? एक अमेरिकी परिवार काहिरा में रहता है। उनकी 8 साल की बेटी केटी एक रेत के तूफान में गायब हो जाती है . आठ साल बाद, वह मिलती है—एक 3,000 साल पुराने ताबूत के अंदर . वह घर लौटती है, लेकिन वह अब वह केटी नहीं है जो थी।
वह कीड़े खाती है। दीवारों में घुस जाती है। काला पदार्थ उलटती है। और उसके परिवार को एहसास होता है: यह कोई साधारण बीमारी नहीं है। यह कोई प्राचीन अभिशाप है।
क्यों देखें?
1. नताली ग्रेस का डरावना अभिनय
नताली ग्रेस ने केटी के किरदार को इतनी गहराई और शारीरिकता दी है कि देखते ही रोंगटे खड़े हो जाते हैं। वह रेंगती है, ऐंठती है, और ऐसे चीखती है कि आप सीट से उठ जाएंगे . अगर इस फिल्म में कोई एक चीज काम करती है, तो वह है उनका प्रदर्शन।
2. प्रैक्टिकल गोर
CGI नहीं, असली मेकअप और इफेक्ट्स। केटी की सड़ती हुई त्वचा, उसके टूटे हुए नाखून, उसके मुंह से निकलता काला पदार्थ—सब कुछ इतना रियल और ग्रॉस है कि आप मुंह फेर लेंगे . अगर आपको ईविल डेड राइज पसंद आई थी, तो यह उससे भी ज्यादा है।
3. माय कलामावी (डिटेक्टिव जाकी)
फिल्म में एक ही ऐसा किरदार है जो समझदारी से काम लेता है—और वह है डिटेक्टिव ज़ाकी . माय कलामावी (मून नाइट) हर सीन में चुरा लेती हैं। अफसोस, वह स्क्रीन पर बहुत कम हैं।
क्यों न देखें?
1. यह "ममी" मूवी नहीं है
सबसे बड़ी निराशा। अगर आप इस फिल्म में ब्रेंडन फ्रेजर या टॉम क्रूज़ वाली ममी ढूंढ रहे हैं, तो भूल जाइए। यहां न तो पट्टियां हैं, न ही स्कारब, न ही कोई प्रतिष्ठित खलनायक। यह एक डेमॉन पोजेशन मूवी है, जिसे "ममी" का लेबल लगा दिया गया है .
2. स्लो पेसिंग और लंबी अवधि
134 मिनट। एक हॉरर फिल्म के लिए यह बहुत लंबा है . बीच के 60 मिनट में कुछ नहीं होता—बस केटी अजीब हरकतें करती है, परिवार उसे नजरअंदाज करता है, और दर्शक उबने लगते हैं।
3. बेवकूफ किरदार
हॉरर फिल्मों में किरदार गलत निर्णय लेते हैं, यह तय है। लेकिन यहां की सीमा पार कर जाते हैं। बेटी दीवारों में छेद करके रेंग रही है, और मां-बाप कहते हैं, "उसे बस थोड़ा प्यार चाहिए" । आप स्क्रीन पर चिल्लाने लगेंगे।
4. एंडिंग बेहद कमजोर
तीसरे एक्ट में फिल्म पूरी तरह बिखर जाती है। नए नियम जुड़ते हैं, नए किरदार आते हैं, और समापन इतना जल्दबाजी में किया जाता है कि आप कुछ समझ नहीं पाते .
5. टाइटल में "ली क्रोनिन" क्यों?
Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street — समझ में आता है। John Carpenter's Halloween — समझ में आता है। लेकिन Lee Cronin's The Mummy? एक डायरेक्टर जिसकी केवल एक ही बड़ी हिट फिल्म है? यह थोड़ा अहंकारी लगता है .
📊 हिंदी मीडिया में रेटिंग्स
| स्रोत | रेटिंग | फैसला |
|---|---|---|
| ABP News | 3.5/5 | "डर और खून का भयानक कॉम्बिनेशन" |
| आज तक | 2.5/5 | "दमदार हॉरर, फिर भी रह गई कमी" |
ABP लिखता है: "अगर आपको हॉरर पसंद है, तो यह मस्ट-वॉच है। लेकिन यह जंप-स्केयर वाला डर नहीं है—यह साइकोलॉजिकल और ग्रॉस है।"
आज तक कहता है: "फिल्म में हॉरर तो है, मगर साथ में कई ऐसी चीजें भी हैं जो आपको अपनी आंखें बंद करने पर मजबूर करेंगी।"
🎯 फैसला: क्या थिएटर जाना चाहिए?
देखें अगर:
आप एक्सट्रीम हॉरर के दीवाना हैं
आपको ईविल डेड राइज पसंद आई थी
आप सिर्फ गोर और बॉडी हॉरर के लिए फिल्म देखते हैं
आप समझते हैं कि यह कोई एडवेंचर मूवी नहीं है
न देखें अगर:
आप ब्रेंडन फ्रेजर की ममी देखकर बड़े हुए हैं
आपको खून-खराबा पसंद नहीं
आप स्लो पेसिंग सेट करते हैं
आप चाहते हैं कि किरदार समझदार फैसले लें
आप एक साफ-सुथरा अंत चाहते हैं
अंतिम राय:
ली क्रोनिन की द ममी एक अजीब, बेचैन करने वाली, और बेहद ग्राफिक फिल्म है। यह वह ममी नहीं है जो आप चाहते थे। लेकिन यह ममी है जो आपको स्क्वीम कराएगी।
हॉरर फैंस के लिए: थिएटर जाइए। गोर का आनंद लीजिए। पर स्क्रीन पर चिल्लाने से बचिए।
बाकी सबके लिए: स्ट्रीमिंग का इंतजार कीजिए। और रिमोट के पास एक तकिया रख लीजिए—आंखें बंद करने के लिए।
रेटिंग: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
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