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There's something about Mummy horror films . Or rather there's something missing about Mummy horror films . They're not really ingrained in to the cinematic memory in the way that films featuring werewolves , vampires , or the Frankenstein monster have . One can perhaps understand this when giving it a little thought . The Mummy narrative usually revolves around some ancient Egyptian being mummified then several thousand years later he's resurrected and just as this is happening his previous mistress just happens to be reincarnated and Mr Mummyman goes to track her down . As bad as in the implausible coincidences might be there is something also about a Mummy that works to its disadvantage - the monster itself shuffles about in an unlikely manner negating much its potential menace
That said I was curios as to the Spanish would spin out the legend of the Mummy and to be honest there's nothing radical on show . Perhaps the best comparison would be with a Hammer horror film and this Spanish language movie does give a nod towards the British studio by having the story set at the turn of the century in London . That said there are numerous goofs where you don't have to look very closely at the cityscape to notice there's modern buildings on the skyline but at least it's obviously filmed in its setting and we're not subjected to the usual stock footage . It also contains the Hammer mind-set that foreigners are not to be trusted which gives Paul Naschy to opportunity to shine as the villain which he does quite well . One stark difference between this and a Hammer film though is that of the violence is a bit more explicit and the titular Mummy seems to have an unhealthy obsession with squashing heads ! Don't say you weren't warned
score 6/10
Theo Robertson 5 May 2015
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3232771/ |
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20-2-2021 04:44:09