The Mummy Resurrection

Directed by Steve Lawson

2023

Creativ Studios

The origin of the mummy genre starts in the 19th century when the tombs of Egypt were being looted by France and Britain and this lore surrounding the burials of the undead has subsequently been used in numerous media iterations ever since.

From novels to film and TV, the creature is most often seen wrapped in bandages and has appeared from the early days of cinema right up to Tom Cruise’s recent blockbuster efforts.

Next to take a stab at the story is director Steve Lawson who opens his film in a suitably Indiana Jones way with an adventurer called Felix Randolph (Melvyn Rawlinson) entering a tomb to bring a sarcophagus back to England.

Back at home, Felix explains its history to Archie (Rafe Bird) before a conniving nephew called Everett (Chris Bell) unleashes its power by touching the artefact.

The film delivers a good nightmarish sequence once the female mummy does arrive on screen. The obligatory bandages flutter with a fiery hell-scape aura behind and it was here, about a third in, I hoped the film would pick up pace.

Unfortunately, after Felix’s death (whilst sleeping no less) we return to the sluggishly paced conversations seen before. Carl Wharton as the corrupt Sykes threatens Everett as he seeks to reclaim a debt. But as Everett is not due any inheritance, he tries to sell the cursed item to Ivy (Dawn Butler) but she wisely refuses to take the jinxed antiquity.

As per Lawson’s previous flicks, the better sequences are the brief ones that keep the pace moving forward. And sadly, it again fails to make the most of its story twists by leaving the unstimulating safe environment of studio shooting for even just a few scenes to mix things up.

Lots of close-ups hide the fact filming is mostly done on set, but the skilled lighting does create a suitable mood from the Victorian era with oil lamps and candles giving it a sepia-toned aesthetic.

Regrettably the overabundance of lengthy conversations in each scene and a lack of any real music score both hinder any creation of an atmosphere the film so sorely needs.

The story continues with Archie and his partner Nancy working with Everett on the remains in an attempt to resurrect the mummified princess. But the film's added comedic moments fight against its final too-late-in-the-day couple of minutes of actual mummy encountering.

As a local indie film – shot at a studio in Leicester – the film is a great example of a cinematic look which can be achieved on a low budget within the Midlands. As for everything else, if you are looking for an exciting take on the popular legend then The Mummy Resurrection may disappoint as it’s a slightly bland retelling of the monster myth. Together with no scares, the film is cursed with far too much talking in rooms and too little of anything else.

★★

2/5

Michael Sales