The Geek Address

When Stephen Sommers was given the opportunity to remake Universal’s classic horror movie, The Mummy, he completely disregarded the original film and produced one of the most enjoyable horror movies in recent years. Although the film has strong elements of adventure and comedy, it also has the ability to make your skin crawl. The opening sequence is brilliantly executed. One of the most grueling sequences in the film is when Imhotep has his tongue removed and is buried alive with hundreds of scarab beetles.’, ‘2005-01-04 15:51:58’, ‘What makes The Mummy such a successful film is Sommer’s ability to combine spine tingling horror with humour. When The Mummy was first released, casting Brendan  Fraser as Rick O’Connell seemed like an odd choice. After all, wasn’t he that kooky guy from George of the Jungle and Encino Man? Fortunately, Fraser manages to bring a great deal of charisma to the lead role, forging a character just as memorable as Indiana Jones. Indeed, the casting of the entire film was good: John Hannah is brilliant as the foppish brother of O’Connell’s love interest Evelyn Carnahan, played by the irrepressibly sassy Rachel Weisz.

Casting aside, what makes The Mummy a brilliant horror film? When the rival archaeologists start investigating the ruins at Hamanaptra - dark, claustrophobic tunnels filled with booby traps and flesh eating scarab beetles - the atmosphere is truly creepy. I can remember giving a shudder of revulsion when the diggers are sandblasted by the pressurized salt acid. Watching the Warden run through the tunnels screaming as a scarab beetle burrows into his flesh is simultaneously disturbing and hilarious. This is definitely one of those film that you have to see with a girl who’s easily scared by horror movies. It’s not going to completely freak her out - thus implying that you’re a sick, twisted bastard - but it’s just scary enough to make her clutch your arm during the scary parts. Or so I’ve been told.

The success of a creature feature can often be gauged by the realism of its boogyman. This is where The Mummy excels. Gone are the bandages that we normally associate with mummies. Imhotep is a sticky, gooey, decomposing corpse that feeds off living flesh and gradually becomes more complete as the movie progresses. O’Connell’s initial reaction to The Mummy is a brilliant feat of comic timing. When the Mummy escapes its tomb, Sommer’s vision of the apocalypse is particularly chilling: fire fills the sky, water runs red with blood and hordes of plague victims roam the streets.

The Mummy is a fun and scary contemporary reworking of the traditional mummy story. Who would have thought that archaeology could be so much fun?

Best line: Hey, Beni! Looks to me like you’re on the wrong side of the river. 

Worst line: The curse…beware the curse!