Lee Cronin’s The Mummy Review: A Brutal, Unrelenting Horror Ride
Natalie Grace as Katie in Lee Cronin’s The Mummy (Warner Bros.)
Going into this film, expectations might be tempered given how many times this story has been retold, but Lee Cronin delivers something that feels far more aligned with modern, visceral horror than the classic adventure tone audiences often associate with the title. That said, Lee Cronin’s The Mummy is one of the more surprising horror entries in recent memory. Not because it reinvents the genre, but because of how much it leans into brutality. This is a movie that is going to have audiences wincing in their seats—let’s dive in.
In the film, the young daughter of a journalist disappears into the desert without a trace. Eight years later, the broken, but somewhat reunited family is shocked when she’s returned to them. Alive. However, what should be a joyful reunion soon turns into a living nightmare as she starts to transform into something truly horrifying. While it does sound like something we may have seen several times, there is something in Cronin’s version that feels fresh. I suppose that’s what makes every filmmaker unique, their vision, and it’s clear throughout this film that Cronin has a very specific and unsettling one.
The performances are all solid. Jack Reynor plays Charlie Cannon, Katie’s dad, who is watching the kids the day she goes missing. This is also where a lot of the tension comes from because you can feel the weight he’s carrying. There’s a quiet guilt that lingers in nearly every scene he’s in, especially when he delivers the line, “You think I’m responsible for this—you can see it.” That moment really anchors the family dynamic and gives the horror an emotional backbone. Natalie Grace, who plays Katie, is easily the standout. Her dialogue is minimal, but every time she speaks, it lands. It’s more about presence with her and it’s deeply unsettling. In several scenes.
Still image from Lee Cronin’s The Mummy (Warner Bros.)
Where the film really makes its mark, though, is in the horror itself. Cronin does not hold back. If you’ve seen Evil Dead Rise, you already know what he’s capable of, but this feels like another level. The imagery is gruesome, aggressive, and at times genuinely hard to watch. So that comparison to Evil Dead is inevitable. A few of the story beats hit familiar territory, and you can definitely feel that DNA throughout. It’s not a negative by any means, it’s just noticeable. I’ve already found myself making that comparison, and I’m sure plenty of others will too. But regardless, that same vicious energy is exactly what makes this film stand out. Cronin leans fully into it, delivering sequences that are going to divide audiences. For horror fans, especially those who appreciate practical effects and intense, in-your-face visual storytelling, this is going to land in a big way.
If there’s a drawback, it’s that the film occasionally prioritizes shock over deeper character exploration. The pacing can feel a bit uneven at times, and you do find yourself wanting more from certain relationships, especially given how strong the emotional setup is early on. The ending also overstays its welcome just a bit. There are multiple moments that feel like a natural “cut to credits” point, only for the film to keep going, which creates a slight sense of drag. You’re sitting there thinking, “Oh… we’re still going.” That said, the film knows exactly what it wants to be, and it commits to that vision fully.
Overall, The Mummy is a brutal, unrelenting horror experience that stands out not because it reinvents the genre, but because it pushes it to uncomfortable extremes. If you’re a horror fan, this is absolutely worth checking out. Just be ready, this one doesn’t pull its punches.
