The new vision of the myth in The Awakening of the Mummy abandons the codes of adventure entertainment in favor of an approach focused on possession, suffering, and body horror.
TL;DR: – The film The Awakening of the Mummy by Lee Cronin creates confusion around the absence of Brendan Fraser, amidst a saga with multiple versions lacking clear continuity. – The franchise has shifted between family adventure and horror, particularly with the 1999 films that popularized a more spectacular and less terrifying mummy. – This new version by Lee Cronin takes on a much more horrifying and psychological tone, transforming the mummy into a demonic and violent entity.
Blurred expectations due to Brendan Fraser’s legacy It’s hard to discuss the film The Awakening of the Mummy without mentioning the prevalent ghost of the version portrayed by American actor Brendan Fraser. However, the recent emphasis by Blumhouse Productions on social media, stating that “Brendan Fraser does not appear in Lee Cronin’s The Awakening of the Mummy,” speaks volumes about the confusion that prevails. The Mummy franchise has taken on various forms without a clear storyline, unlike sagas like Star Wars. From the era of Universal Monsters (1932) to recent attempts like the ill-fated Dark Universe with Tom Cruise, audiences have come to associate the mummy more with daring exploits than genuine thrills.
From a family adventure to the return of the Egyptian nightmare It’s no coincidence that an entire generation perceives the mummy today more as a comical figure than a frightening one. Films directed by Stephen Sommers, cleverly riding the wave of “Indiana Jones,” helped relegate this once terrifying creature to a nearly laughable antagonist, as seen with the clumsy zombies in the 1990s. This overlooks the fact that behind the spectacle of a walking corpse lies a rich history of spiritualism, occultism, and witchcraft. Before 1999, each installment presented its own vision, exploring fears of the unknown or delicate themes of exoticism and black magic.
Lee Cronin and the art of horrific remix To rejuvenate interest in The Mummy, Lee Cronin breaks free from convention and embraces a distinctly horrific inspiration. Here, graphic violence and psychological depth cannot be ignored: his mummy no longer seeks only a relic or lost love, but embodies a demonic possession afflicting an entire family. Some chilling details mark this shift, including:
– The protagonist, Katie (Natalie Grace), sees her bandages merge with her own skin. – The tearing off is literally equivalent to flaying alive. – Far from a soulless monster, she is inhabited by an ancient Egyptian demon.
Drawing inspiration from Universal classics while flirting with the dark atmospheres of films like The Awakening, the director fearlessly revisits and twists conventions to restore the myth’s dignity.
One legend, many faces Ultimately, each era has had its own version of The Mummy. Some will always prefer the adventurous spirit of the Brendan Fraser years, while others may be enticed by Lee Cronin’s brutal and innovative approach. One thing remains: between subtle homage and horrific radicalism, there is still, perhaps more than ever, room for all kinds of mummies on the big screen.
