Lee Cronin's The Mummy (2026) Film Review: Gross out popcorn horror for hardcore gore fans
- reeltalkin'
- 16 hours ago
- 4 min read
Katie, the young daughter of an investigative TV reporter is kidnapped and disappears into the Egyptian desert without a trace of who abducted her and why.
Eight years later, the broken family is shocked when they are informed that Katie has been discovered locked inside an ancient sarcophagus.
What should be a joyful reunion soon descends into a living nightmare as the family come to realise that something evil and demonic is in possession of their beloved daughter.
A bold reimagining of The Mummy franchise, director and writer Lee Cronin clearly differentiates his work from the classic action/adventure films of the late 1990s/early 2000s starring Brendan Fraser, by focusing purely on the supernatural horror allure which originally drew audiences in back in the 1930s with the Universal Monsters franchise.
Cronin is probably most well known for directing 2023s Evil Dead Rise and he evidently has an enthusiastic passion for the cult movies' unique combination of over the top bloody violence with camp, goofy comedy. Both of these elements are integrated into his take on The Mummy and whilst not every creative choice succeeds here, there is plenty to admire and praise in this modern reinterpretation.
This is a genuinely scary and deeply disturbing horror film due to its likely polarising and controversial focal point of putting a child in direct contact with the supernatural threat. The movie does not hold back regarding this incredibly unsettling subject matter, making for very uncomfortable viewing as audiences are forced to watch a helpless little girl be subjected to horrifying ancient rituals.
Definitely not for the faint of heart, it is recommended that only die hard horror fans seek this film out, as Cronin certainly delivers another gory spectacle with plenty of grotesque body horror which may even turn the strongest of stomachs. Cronin frequently demonstrates a dirty, grimy tone through extreme close ups of gnarly mutilations, all manners of juicy bodily fluids and brutal shock value.
Everything is shown in raw, sickening detail and the film crosses many lines viewers may not expect, reveling in juicy body horror and intense, atmospheric set pieces. The movie builds an effective mystery regarding the whereabouts of Katie and what has actually happened to her when she is rediscovered, however, the narrative can become bogged down and convoluted by too many loose plot threads branching off the main focus of the family.
A sub plot featuring a cop investigating Katie's disappearance could have been trimmed down to cut out some tedious padding. The movie is definitely overlong, clocking in at two hours and fifteen, where a decent twenty-thirty minutes could have been streamlined or cut out altogether to create a stronger, more effective screenplay.
Although, one does appreciate how the film takes its time with its meticulous plotting, remaining patient and deliberate as it slowly builds suspense and nail biting tension after Katie is found and returned to her family home. Following a series of increasingly disturbing events, things eventually culminate in a very memorable funeral sequence where every moving piece falls into place perfectly, resulting in pure cinema to tantalise any horror buff.
Cronin makes the inspired choice to keep the majority of Katie's physical appearance off camera when she is first reintroduced into the story, so that her creepy deformities from a literal mummification can really get underneath a viewer's skin. Props must go to the make up and costume department, who do a terrific job with the skin textures on Natalie Grace's body.
There is admittedly a little too much reliance on CGI towards the latter end of the film, but this does add to its fun, cheeky charm. The movie sometimes struggles with its tone, managing to construct a chilling atmosphere where there are genuine emotional stakes and threats lingering around every corner, yet this classic 'things that go bump in the night' horror can be undermined by the incredibly silly, Evil Dead side to this possession story.
Luckily, the gory set pieces are well shot and staged and all of the child performances are solid, coming across as genuine and believable which further heightens the horror of young lives constantly being in life threatening situations. It is definitely understandable why this film may not sit well with many due to this uncomfortable aspect of the story and one must made fully aware of this before venturing into the Egyptian desert.
Overall, Lee Cronin's The Mummy is a daring reimagining of the classic monster movie for those diehard horror fans. There is blood and gore and all manners of bodily fluids on full display as Cronin well and truly goes directly for the jugular here. Although the general pacing is affected by several interlinking plot threads, this is an all around solidly entertaining horror flick for those who can stomach it...
Check out the trailer for Lee Cronin's The Mummy (2026) below, and please let me know your thoughts in the comments!
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