Ancient Egypt And Its Role On The Success Of The Mummy Franchise

Ancient Egypt is a vast golden wonder that’s so rich in history, it’s like a love letter to history fans around the world. It’s a period that’s defined by unique beliefs, ways of life and architectural dominance we’re still trying to understand today. But behind its enigmas and beauty, Ancient Egypt had a dark side. Now, this ‘dark side’ is a matter of perspective – what was once a conventional way of living for Ancient Egyptians is now alien to us, sparking curiosity in the form of horror movies. In this article, we’ll be looking at two notable movies from The Mummy franchise that were inspired by these peculiar times.

The Mummy (1999)

The Mummy is a suspenseful adventure rife with terrifying horror themes. The story follows thrill-seeking explorers in 1925 when they discover an ancient tomb in the Sahara Desert and come face-to-face with a deadly curse. With a star-studded cast including Brendan Fraser, Arnold Vosloo and Rachel Weisz, The Mummy stays close to its Egyptian roots, featuring mummies, tombs and pharaohs. The real taste of horror, though, comes from the movie’s main villain, Imhotep (Vosloo), the high priest of Osiris. Riddled with a deadly curse cast upon him for murdering the Pharaoh and acquiring dark magic from the Book of The Dead, Imhotep can take on a form that’s not easy on the eyes, particularly in the scene where we see him with no eyes or tongue. That part is a real stomach twister.

Overall, The Mummy is received as a timeless classic and spawned a variety of memorabilia and merchandise, introducing a new perspective to Ancient Egypt. Not only was the movie followed by a sequel, but the combination of horror within the Ancient Egyptian setting caught the attention of otehr industries, such as iGaming. Book of Dead, for example, bears a striking resemblance to The Mummy, following protagonist and adventurer Rich Wilde as he unearths the dark secrets of Ancient Egypt and encounters all that you witness in the movie: mummies, pharaohs and hieroglyphs. Sound familiar? Its impressive graphics, free spins, no deposit bonus and similarities to the blockbuster hit mean this genre of gaming is finding its place beyond the big screen.

THE MUMMY (Stephen Sommers, 1999) plays at Metrograph starting November, 10th on 35mm. https://t.co/J7WspFHkyR

📸: Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz pic.twitter.com/I0cWgNhzTF

— Metrograph (@Metrograph) November 6, 2023

The Mummy Returns (2001)

Set 8 years later, The Mummy Returns carries similar horror themes to those that worked so well in the 1999 release. After being defeated in the first movie (or so we thought), Imhotep is resurrected to reign terror once more as he embarks on his horrifying journey for power. However, this time, fans are greeted with two antagonists, as this movie introduces The Scorpion King, played by Dwayne Johnson (he would go on to have his own leading role a year later, in 2002’s The Scorpion King). Although the CGI of The Scorpion King was questionable, even for its time, the idea of such a villain is still enough to bring shivers down your spine. The sequel may not have received as much love as its predecessor, but it’s still very much a ‘safe sequel’ – still resonating with horror lovers all these years later.

The Mummy (1999) was a game-changer for its time – never had we seen such gruesome discoveries unfold on the big screen, with CGI that still holds up today. Not to mention the iconic character of Rick O’Connell, so well done that fans are asking Brendan Fraser to reprise the role. Overall, The Mummy series is a prime example of how Ancient Egypt is a worthy candidate for horror material.