We see zombies (check out my column “The History of Zombies is Darker Than You Think”), vampires, ghouls, and other fictional monsters in horror media all of the time. So, where the hell are mummies?
In 1922, King Tutankhamun’s tomb and its treasures were discovered. This led to widespread interest among Westerners about ancient Egypt. Rumors of a “curse” on anyone who disturbed the tomb quickly circulated. Hollywood capitalized on the public’s fascination and knew this would be the perfect concept for a horror film. Released in 1932, The Mummy was the product of this publicity and defined the mummy archetype.
It’s a slow-burn horror film that follows an ancient Egyptian high priest, Imhotep, who English archaeologists mistakenly revived by reading a scroll buried with him. After coming back to life, Imhotep set out on a quest to find the reincarnation of his lost love, Anck-es-en-Amon.
A more recent adaptation, The Mummy (1999), is one of the best movies to exist, but I digress. You can debate with me on that in the comments.
Returning to the original point, many horror films starring mummies followed shortly after the 1932 film. However, by the mid-20th century, mummies declined in popularity.
One of the reasons is that people’s fears shifted to science and technology because of World War II. Additionally, the story behind the creature became repetitive, and competing horror trends surpassed it.
In recent years, the trope has faced criticism for misrepresenting Egyptian culture. It may be risky to create a horror film without accurately depicting Ancient Egypt.
The Mummy (1999) redefined this mythical creature with a multidimensional personality (as opposed to a moaning man wrapped in toilet paper) with an action-packed storyline to boot.
Clearly, we are overdue for a new mummy/ancient Egyptian themed horror movie. I know it can be done correctly, and I’m looking forward to it.
Leave a comment below on your thoughts or questions you have!
