If you’ve seen the trailers for Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, you already know this isn’t going to be a swashbuckling adventure with sandstorms and wisecracks. This feels different. Darker. Meaner. And honestly? The trailers definitely give the creeps.
Lee Cronin, best known for Evil Dead Rise, has a knack for claustrophobic terror and physical horror that makes you squirm in your seat. So when it was announced he’d be taking on The Mummy, my first thought wasn’t about ancient tombs and action set pieces. It was about rot. Curses. And something ancient that should never have been disturbed.
And that’s exactly the energy the trailers are selling.
A Return to Monster Horror
For years, The Mummy has drifted between genres. The 1932 original leaned into eerie atmosphere. The 1999 version went full adventure spectacle. The 2017 reboot tried to launch a shared universe and ended up feeling more blockbuster than horror.
But Cronin’s take? This looks like it wants to scare you.
The footage teases tight corridors, suffocating darkness, and bodies that don’t move the way they should. There’s a heavy focus on decay and transformation. Not just a wrapped-up ancient priest walking stiffly through the night, but something more visceral. Something closer to body horror.
The curse in this version doesn’t feel like a myth. It feels contagious.
The Tone Feels Unforgiving
What stands out most from the trailers is the tone. There’s no wink to the audience. No heroic music swelling as someone grabs a torch. The soundtrack hums with dread. The lighting is sickly and shadow-drenched. Even the glimpses of the mummy itself feel restrained, which somehow makes it worse.
Cronin understands that what you don’t see can be more terrifying than what you do. Quick flashes. Distorted limbs. A jaw unhinging just a little too far. The camera never lingers long enough to let you feel safe.
And that’s exactly why it works.
A Modern Fear of the Ancient
What makes The Mummy such an enduring horror icon is the idea of ancient wrongs refusing to stay buried. Curses that outlive empires. Rage that survives death itself.
From what we’ve seen, Cronin leans into that mythic weight. This doesn’t look like just one monster stalking victims. It feels like an awakening. Like the past itself is pushing back.
There are hints of possession, psychological unraveling, and a spreading infection of fear. If Evil Dead Rise is any indication, Cronin won’t hold back when it comes to the consequences. Expect practical effects, brutal sequences, and a willingness to let horror get uncomfortable.
Why Horror Fans Should Be Excited
As a horror fan, I want my monsters to feel dangerous again. Not misunderstood anti-heroes. Not CGI-heavy action bosses. Dangerous.
The trailers for The Mummy promise a creature that is patient, cruel, and unstoppable. A force rather than a character. Something that hunts with purpose and punishes curiosity.
If Cronin delivers on what the marketing suggests, this could finally be the modern Universal monster movie that fully commits to fear. Not universe-building. Not franchise teases. Just pure, suffocating horror.
What Might Happen?
Based on the trailer clues, I’m expecting:
A central character who becomes directly tied to the curse, possibly marked or slowly transformed
A contained setting that amplifies tension rather than globe-trotting adventure
A mummy design that leans into practical makeup and grotesque detail
A final act that spirals into chaos rather than tidy resolution
And if Cronin really wants to shock audiences, don’t expect everyone to survive.
Final Thoughts
The Mummy has always had horror in its DNA. It just hasn’t always been allowed to fully embrace it. Lee Cronin’s version looks like it’s done asking for permission.
The trailers definitely give the creeps. They feel oppressive, disturbing, and unapologetically dark. If the full film matches that energy, we might be witnessing the rebirth of a true cinematic monster.
And honestly? It’s about time something ancient crawled out of the sand and reminded us why we were scared in the first place.