The Mummy (1932)

The Mummy (1932) is a gothic horror tale of ancient love, obsession, and supernatural revenge. In 1921 a British archaeological team unearths the 3,700-year-old mummy of the priest Im-Ho-Tep and the legendary Scroll of Thoth. When a young member of the dig reads the scroll aloud, Im-Ho-Tep is mysteriously revived. Ten years later, disguised as the enigmatic Ardath Bay, the risen mummy returns to Egypt determined to find and reunite with the woman he believes is the reincarnation of his ancient bride. His hypnotic powers and the eerie forces of the scroll set off a tense battle of wills between the undead lover and the modern investigators — including Sir Joseph Whemple’s son Frank and Dr. Muller — as lives and sanity hang in the balance. What you’ll experience: a slow-burning, atmospheric black-and-white horror classic built on mood and suggestion rather than gore. Expect haunting desert tombs, hypnotic stares, mysterious deaths, and a tragic, obsessive love at the story’s core. The film’s deliberate pacing, shadowy cinematography, and memorable central performance create a creeping sense of dread and melancholy; it’s as much a romantic tragedy as it is a supernatural thriller, and a foundational entry in early Universal monster cinema.

Actors: Boris Karloff, Zita Johann, David Manners

Director: Karl Freund

Runtime: 73 min

Genres: Fantasy, Horror

6.8 /10 7.0 /10 6.9 /10