Our unofficial official start to Universal’s Dark Universe may not have been the greatest, but it did make enough of a bang to last in our memories. 2017’s remake of the classic monster film The Mummy dared to turn one of the coolest premises and characters into a side kick because Tom Cruise needs to be the star in every motion picture he is cast in. That’s not true, of course, but it certainly felt like it here. The much-anticipated Dark Universe was sadly put on hiatus when returns and reviews didn’t go as high as execs may have wanted. That, along with timing and many changes in direction made this remake a messy movie with no real purpose other than to show off a star-studded cast. I can see how many people wouldn’t like The Mummy — I was pretty underwhelmed at first. But after 6 years, it’s really softened on me; I like it!
But first, let’s address the elephant in the room and get the obvious fails out of the way (spoilers ahead!). We do have a mummy by way of Sofia Boutella’s Ahmanet; her character however is not the mummy. It’s Tom Cruise, who by the end of the film is turned into a mummy (actually a possession by/reincarnation of the god Set). There was absolutely no need for two mummies, especially when Sofia Boutella did such an awesome job.
There’s also a slight whitewashing of the story — not new to the series, but there nonetheless. We of course have the American military, British archaeologists, and a white-led sciencey secret society all causing terror in the streets of Iraq and Egypt. But they save the day and ride off into the sunset with their newfound riches, all while normal citizens are left cleaning up their destroyed homes… or y’know, are dead. Keeping in mind that we’re looking at this through 2023 glasses, it’s still a little sad that these tropes were still being used just a few years ago.
All those things are unfortunately too “bad” that they cover up the good. The Mummy had massive potential for the start of a movement and revival of the much beloved Universal Monsters. Firstly, we have the Dark Universe and links to other monsters by way of the supernatural Prodigium society, led by Russell Crowe’s Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde. All other movies in this universe would presumably have links to this society as well. We’d have our very own metaverse with the most famous horror icons of all time.
And I know a lot of people don’t necessarily want well-known actors in their horror movies, especially one as well-known as Tom Cruise. But we have to think about audience potential while also not discrediting the other actors. Sofia Boutella played a perfect Ahmanet, and was a mix of sexy, scary, and powerful. Javier Botet, famous creature actor, is wonderful as Set. Chris (played by Jake Johnson) is reminiscent of An American Werewolf in London‘s Jack, blending the roles of “good friend” and “beckoning death” together seamlessly.
Which brings me to makeup, costuming, and all-around aesthetic. Penny Rose, known for costume design for Pirates of the Caribbean, brought the ancient clothing to life amongst the modern characters. And a literal barrage of makeup artists, hair stylists, and special effects artists came together to create the looks we see on screen. No crepe paper and corn flake application here (no offense, Jack Pierce) — this is an art form for the 21st century!
I’m not blaming people for thinking The Mummy was trash. Compared to the 1999 masterpiece, it effectively is. But as a reinvention — not remake — of the original 1932 version, this brings new life to the story of a person that time and history forgot, while simultaneously providing an intriguing new storyline to follow.
2017’s The Mummy had potential, and still does. I bet that in time, more Universal fans will begin to see the bits and pieces that do pack a punch, just as I did. And even though this ended talks of the Dark Universe, I still have hope that not all is lost.
What did you think of The Mummy? Let us know in the comments!
