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The Mummy (1932)

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92

Average Rating: 7.8/10
Reviews Counted: 24
Fresh: 22 | Rotten: 2

Relying more on mood and atmosphere than the thrills typical of modern horror fare, Universal's The Mummy sets a masterful template for mummy-themed films to follow.

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 2

Relying more on mood and atmosphere than the thrills typical of modern horror fare, Universal's The Mummy sets a masterful template for mummy-themed films to follow.

audience

68

liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 10,439

My Rating

Movie Info

The Mummy represented Boris Karloff's second horror starring role after his "overnight" success in Frankenstein. Brought back to life after nearly 3,700 years, Egyptian high priest Imhotep wreaks havoc upon the members of the British field exposition that disturbed his tomb (shades of the King Tut curse). While disguised as a contemporary Egyptologist, he falls in love with Zita Johann, whom he recognizes as the latest incarnation of a priestess who died nearly 40 centures earlier. Spiriting

Unrated, 1 hr. 13 min.

Classics, Horror

John L. Balderston

Aug 28, 2001

MCA Universal Home Video

Cast

All Critics (24) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (22) | Rotten (2) | DVD (15)

Thoroughly unreasonable hocus-pocus.

October 21, 2010 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | Comment
TIME Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The transformation of Karloff's Im-Ho-Tep from a clay-like figure in a coffin to a living thing is the highlight.

July 6, 2010 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
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The drama may be clumsy, but Freund's lighting is a wonder.

September 19, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
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The photography is superior to the dialogue.

August 8, 2006 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comments (3)
New York Times
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This vintage classic is more funny than scary.

January 2, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

Dated, but interesting if only to see the origin of the many Egyptian films that were to follow it.

August 16, 2010 Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs | Comment
Three Movie Buffs

This spine-chilling movie, shot in the German expressionistic manner, was the first of eight directed by one of the great cinematographers of cinema history.

September 19, 2007 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment

A sombre and atmospheric depiction of eternal passion and occult reincarnation.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

"It's alive! It's alive!"

December 5, 2005 Comment
ColeSmithey.com

More atmospheric than terrifying

September 16, 2005 Comment
Lawrence Journal-World

The flashbacks are particularly terrifying.

January 3, 2005 Comment

The film lacks the usual number of chills and thrills that one would expect from a 'horror' film, but this one draws you in with its mood instead.

November 1, 2004 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | Comment
Combustible Celluloid

Universal pulls another moody horror classic out of its hat.

November 13, 2003 Comment
Juicy Cerebellum

A bit slow, but Karloff at his peak. A true horror masterpiece.

December 25, 2002 Comment
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

Poetic, brilliant, creepy horror classic with a great Karloff performance

August 22, 2002 Comment
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Mummy

1932's The Mummy is the film of which all subsequent Mummy films have been judged upon. But there can only be one. Boris Karloff's legendary role is what separates this film among all the other rip offs, remakes that came after it. This film solidified Karloff's stature as one of the horror icons of old school cinema.

August 15, 2011
TheDudeLebowski65
Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

No modern CGI f/x, no stunts, no explosions or gunfights, no car chases, and the first is still the best. Why? Because it's more a forlorn and moody poem about lost love than about scaring people. This tale of desire gone too far is carried by the sultry eyes of Zita Johann as the object of desire and, of course, by

May 31, 2011
moonrivers

Super Reviewer

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