Walking into the theater with a tub of popcorn, eager to watch “The Mummy” directed by Lee Cronin, you might find yourself pondering a significant question: Who exactly is Lee Cronin? Alongside this query, you may be wondering about the absence of Brendan Fraser, the connection to the 1999 film “The Mummy,” and the failed 2017 reboot of Universal’s Dark Universe. How did Warner Bros. produce this movie without ties to Universal’s previous Mummy franchise and upcoming revival? And once again, who is Lee Cronin?
Lee Cronin serves as the writer-director of the film, but let’s set aside the backstage complexities for now and delve into the myriad challenges Cronin presents on-screen. The narrative kicks off by introducing an Egyptian family characterized by joy and mirth, except for a resentful mother displaying an inexplicable aversion to her children’s happiness, and a pet bird exhibiting a disturbing behavior of blood oozing from its beak.
Or perhaps, the story follows an American family residing in Egypt, featuring Charlie Cannon, an aspiring journalist striving to secure a better future in New York for his family, including his pregnant wife Larissa and their children, Sebastián and Katie. However, Katie mysteriously vanishes during a dust storm in Cairo.
Alternatively, the focus may shift to Detective Dalia Zaki, a tough investigator assigned to locate the missing Katie amidst her disheartened superiors who have lost faith in true police work. Yet, the narrative eventually circles back to the Cannon family, albeit eight years later, introducing a host of new characters, including teenage Sebastián, grandmother Carmen, and a newfound member named Maud.
Through a convoluted storyline involving human trafficking, ancient curses, and a lead-lined sarcophagus, a severely traumatized Katie reemerges, now exhibiting eerie behaviors like a haunting scream, crawling within the walls, and a bizarre craving for insects and slimy creatures.
This sets the stage for a conventional possession tale intertwined with an Egyptian mummy narrative, sporadically touching upon themes of family loyalty, distrust, and abandonment with vague intentions and minimal depth.
Initially touted as a unique departure from traditional Mummy movies, Cronin’s vision aligns with Blumhouse-produced Warner Bros. projects, marking a shift from Universal’s Dark Universe after the lackluster reception of Tom Cruise’s 2017 rendition of “The Mummy.”
Despite speculations linking Cronin’s film to Universal’s monster legacy, the lack of concrete connections reinforces the standalone nature of “The Mummy.” This ambiguity coincides with Universal’s forthcoming Mummy reboot featuring Brendan Fraser, leading to potential confusion among viewers.
While rumors suggest that the movie underwent significant alterations post-negative test screenings, Cronin refutes these claims, asserting that the final product aligns with his original vision. However, the film’s execution falls short, offering a disjointed narrative riddled with uninspired horror tropes and gratuitous shocks, devoid of meaningful character development or cohesive storytelling.
Cronin’s attempt to infuse familial horror akin to acclaimed titles like “Sinister” or “Hereditary” ultimately falters, resulting in a grotesque yet shallow cinematic experience that fails to resonate with its audience beyond shock value.