THE MUMMY (1932)

CAPSULE REVIEW –– Forgive the pun, but Universal really did a great job fleshing out the sinister, yet hollow 1932 original flick in it's 1999 REMAKE. The main reason for indulging in this antiquity is to experience the wondrously creepy and charismatic performance of Boris Karloff as the undead prince Imhotep. The latest version turns the original, suspense-driven story into an action/adventure/romance. While those elements are present here, the effects in 1932 were not as advanced and therefore the filmmakers had to rely more on acting and plot for scares. Imhotep, a cursed prince buried alive thousands of years before, is raised from the dead, in 1921, by a group of archaeologists unaware of the evil they are unleashing. His one goal is to resurrect the soul of his long dead love, whom he believes has been reincarnated into the body of a modern woman, Helen (Johann). Though horrified at the situation, she cannot resist the mummy's call and is forced to rely on her friends to physically prevent her from answering. It's a hard fought struggle for her future with her life hanging precariously in the balance. Karloff's seductive intelligence and smoldering passion make him hard to resist. Johann's well-played turmoil adds a dark and desperate air to the proceedings. A powerful and irresistible tale not brought quite fully to life.