‘The Mummy’ Turns 25: Re-examining the Cult Classic Film

The Mummy was recently re-released in cinemas in the US and UK to celebrate its 25th anniversary. But just how did this 90’s adventure flick gain its status as a classic?

Released in 1999, The Mummy was inspired by the 1932 film of the same name. But instead of simply recreating the original film, classically known as a horror, director Stephen Sommers decided to follow in the footsteps of Indiana Jones. While it retained some of the original horror elements, Sommers largely geared the film towards the action-adventure genre.

And it worked: The Mummy was a box-office success, despite mixed reviews from some critics. The film has spawned two sequels, video games, and even its own ride at Universal Studios. But its success goes beyond the commercial – many Millennials and Gen Z consider it to be a cult classic. Let’s delve into what makes this film stand out from the others.

The Cast

Simply put, The Mummy has an amazing cast. Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz dazzle as the stars of the film, but the secondary characters definitely hold their own against the two protagonists.

John Hannah’s performance as Weisz’s inept older brother, Jonathan, is as memorable as it is endearing. His witty lines shine through as some of the most comical moments of the film. Oded Fehr smolders as leader of the mysterious Medjai warriors, Ardeth Bay. And the shamelessly opportunistic, conniving Beni (played by Kevin J. O’Connor) is a great contrast to Arnold Vosloo’s menacing Imhotep – the titular Mummy himself.

Rachel Weisz is brilliantly well-suited to the role of Evelyn (Evie) Carnahan, an earnest librarian-turned-adventurer with a penchant for getting into trouble, perhaps due to her unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Without being over-the-top, Weisz manages to balance Evie’s scholarly enthusiasm with her charm and innocence. This results in a compelling heroine, even when she’s forced to be a damsel-in-distress at some points of the film.

The film wouldn’t be complete without Brendan Fraser as Rick O’Connell, the gallant American action-hero. His deadpan, tough-guy persona mixed with his comedic timing make for some wonderful moments of camp humour. Plus, the electric chemistry between Fraser and Weisz really sells the romance between the two characters (with just the right amount of cheesiness).

Many on social media blogs have dubbed the film a ‘bisexual awakening’ over the years: you can probably see why.

Music & Special Effects

Aside from its cast, the film creates an immersive atmosphere through a great soundtrack. It was composed by award-winning composer Jerry Goldsmith, known for Star Trek, Alien, Planet of the Apes, and many other blockbuster films. The epic orchestral music sustains the frenetic action taking place, working alongside the visual elements of the film. This helps to effectively establish the vast, ominous, and sometimes fantastical settings across Egypt, such as the fictional city of Hamunaptra. The soundtrack was nominated for a Saturn Award, and won the BMI Film Music Award.

The special effects contribute significantly to the horror aspects of the film. Many of these effects still hold up today, despite filmmakers using less advanced technology in 1999. The mixture of prosthetics and digital imagery to achieve the Mummy’s terrifying, decomposed appearance are highly effective. Furthermore, the visuals for his supernatural sandstorm attacks are thrilling, at one point creating a vast sand replica of his face to attempt to swallow the fleeing heroes. Overall, the makeup and prosthetics throughout the film are very convincing, even winning a Saturn Award for Best Make-up.

The film doesn’t rely only on computer-generated graphics; it uses some practical effects, too. This helps it appear less dated and avoid the ‘soulless’ appearance of certain films which almost solely use CGI. (Some recent Marvel titles, for instance.)

Genre & Tone

Although The Mummy lands squarely in the action-adventure genre, it’s very effective at using different tones to create excitement. It certainly isn’t a film that takes itself too seriously, providing escapism more than anything. Yet, The Mummy still has an impact: it just doesn’t pretend to be thought-provoking.

It deftly toes the line between light-hearted comedic scenes and moments of genuine horror and suspense. These qualities especially shine through when Imhotep begins to hunt down various characters in the film.

What’s more, it’s endlessly quotable. Who could forget O’Connell yelling at a smug Beni, ‘LOOKS TO ME LIKE YOU’RE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE RIVER!’? Or Evie’s drunkenly slurred (completely sincere) speech about being a librarian?

However, not everything about The Mummy has aged well. For a film set entirely in Egypt, there are no Egyptian actors in any major roles. For example, Imhotep (the Mummy himself) is portrayed by a South African actor, and his lover Anck-su-namun, by a Venezualan actress.

The film also depicts some negative stereotypes. One character, an Egyptian prison warden (again, played by a non-Egyptian actor), is illustrated as greedy, corrupt, and ignorant. Additionally, the American characters in the film treat the Egyptian labourers as disposable, though this is not completely shown in a positive light.

Although it’s certainly not the most offensive film of its time– or its genre, which is known to frequently fall into white saviour territory – it’s still important to be aware that it’s flawed in terms of its lack of accurate Egyptian representation.

Conclusion

Overall, despite some of its faults, The Mummy has endured the test of time. It’s a blockbuster that succeeds in combining sweeping historical adventure with light-hearted humour, supernatural horror, and, to top it off, a compelling romance. If you can take anything away from this article it’s that you should definitely watch, or rewatch, The Mummy.