Lee Cronin’s The Mummy
The young daughter of a journalist (Jack Reynor) disappears into the desert without a trace. Eight years later, the broken family is shocked when she is returned to them, as what should be a joyful reunion turns into a living nightmare.
STORY: A
The horror cuts deep because it’s rooted in universal human fears.
People will have two types of conversations when they walk out of this movie. The first will feel familiar, reminiscent of kids stepping off a roller coaster: walking briskly, slightly out of breath, and gleefully debating the scariest parts.
A deeper, more serious conversation may arise after some reflection. The script buries a meditation deep inside itself about fears we all share: the possibility of losing a child, the possibility that child is irrevocably changed when they’re found, and the idea that such trauma may shred the seemingly secure bonds of a family apart.
The movie is much more interested in the gore and jump scares, but those elements are magnified greatly by its contemplative soul.
PEOPLE: B+
Everyone is really good!
Each character is asked to hit a slightly different emotional tone, and every single one of them is pitch-perfect. Jack Reynor and Laia Costa are standouts in a constellation of standouts.
FILM NERD STUFF: A+
Within the chaos sits a director in complete control.
The camera is always up to something interesting — always. Sometimes it sits low; sometimes it creeps over the horizon; other times it shoves characters into uncomfortable spaces.
Ten minutes in, I thought of a marathon runner who starts out at a blistering pace. I thought, “There’s no way they can sustain this staggering cinematography up for another two hours.” I was wrong.
Cronin’s deluge of striking camera work isn’t indulgence. It’s identity. It’s not always used to serve the story; it’s used to serve the energy. It grabs hold of us and never lets go. It’s some of the most impressive cinematography of the year.
ONE BIG LESSON: A-
If you’re going to do something, do it with gusto.
That was apparently Lee Cronin’s motto for his team, and this wonderful film is the result.
FINAL COMMENTS:
Cronin takes what could have been a mediocre clunker and transforms it into a crackling, gory, vim-filled thrill ride you won’t be able to stop talking about. It should appeal to every type of horror fan, and it’s the best horror film of the year so far.