The Best ‘Mummy’ Remake is a Hidden Universal Monsters Horror Film

Many people consider Stephen Sommers’ 1999 adaptation of ‘The Mummy’ to be among the best reimaginings of the original 1932 movie. It was a huge smash because it brought a sense of excitement and adventure to the idea of mummies in horror movies. Despite drawing inspiration from previous mummy movies, ‘The Mummy’ of 1999 was more reminiscent of vampire flicks, especially in its depiction of the monster Imhotep.

Imhotep’s regeneration mechanism in the 1999 movie is quite similar to that of vampires since he uses other people’s life power to change back into his physical form. This idea is comparable to how different depictions of Dracula depict the vampire becoming younger by consuming his victims’ blood. Similar to Dracula’s search for his long-lost wife, Imhotep’s desire to bring back his beloved Anck-su-namun is another example of how the plot reflects motifs found in vampire lore, such as the monster’s obsession with a reincarnated lover.

Image Courtesy: CBR

Additionally, the movie uses themes that are frequently found in vampire movies, like mind control and the production of undead minions. Based on Egyptian mythology, Imhotep’s phobia of cats further reflects the conventional concept that religious symbols like crosses repel vampires. Furthermore, the movie’s Beni character has traits in common with Renfield, Dracula’s notorious helper.

Beyond being a typical horror movie, ‘The Mummy’ of 1999 combines aspects of vampire legend with the mummy genre, which does not have the same well-established set of clichés. Historically, mummies have been less distinct than vampires and frequently resemble other horror creatures, such as zombies. As a result, ‘The Mummy’ distinguishes itself by incorporating well-known vampire-inspired features while adding a novel spin to the mummy genre. The distinctiveness of the 1999 remake is highlighted by the fact that this strategy hasn’t been entirely repeated in later mummy movies.

–Farheen Ali