"The Mummy's Tomb" is an at least watchable sequel when it wants to be.
**SPOILERS**
Recalling an earlier expedition, Stephen Banning, (Dick Foran) tells the story to Dr. John Banning, (John Hubbard) and Isobel Evans, (Elyse Knox) of finding a sacred tomb in the desert and how he was able to escape. Returning home to Massachusetts with the rest of his family, he is unknowingly followed by Mehemet Bey, (Turhan Bey) and Kharis, (Lon Chaney Jr.) the mummy. Constantly rattled by numerous local sources, and before long, the family members and some local friends turn up dead. When Babe Hansen, (Wallace Ford) arrives to help the family but can't stop the murders. Finally catching on to the mummy's business, the remaining members formulate a plan save themselves from the murderous creature.
The Good News: This wasn't all that bad when it really mattered. This is most apparent in the stalking scenes. This is where it's best aspects show, since each one is quite good in their own way. The first one is the creepiest, where it stalks the victim across the room, unable to utter anything at the approaching threat until the final death rattle. Another victim stalked through a darkened alleyway is particularly creepy as the shadows that come into play make it look really impressive. This is mainly helped by the impressive figure that Kharis cuts. He's large and looks powerfully built, which comes into great play when he begins to move around and become a threat to the victims with the manner of killing method. The two go hand-in-hand to make Kharis seem like an unstoppable force, and these two factors do make him. The film's at it's best when it goes for the finale, which is a really impressive site and way to end the film. There's a great amount of action that lasts for a long period of time. With the confrontations and stunts employed, this one keeps the interest level up, and then to add in all the great fire-work as well. With all the furniture and surroundings going up in flames and the stunts coming along the way is really impressive. This here is the film's best moment and really works to it's advantage. These help the film somewhat.
The Bad News: There isn't a whole lot here that doesn't work. One of the film's problems is that there's a lot of stock footage in this one. It's short enough as it is, with a barely seventy minute run-time. The first ten minutes of the film really is a flashback to the one before. This is a big disadvantage to the film as there's a sizable fraction of it's time eaten up by showing events from another film. Granted, they're important to setting up the story here, as it's officially a sequel to that one, there's a way to trim it without it feeling like extraneous footage. The mummy's look is also a little of a disappointment. There's really nothing here that suggests he looks decrepit and olden, that it doesn't really look like it's all old at all. This mummy looks quite bad and really isn't all that convincing as a creature thousands of years old. Otherwise, this here wasn't that bad.
The Final Verdict: With not a whole lot wrong, this one manages to be one of the better sequels out there and at least is watchable. Give it a shot if you're a fan of the series, but don't expect any miracles, while those who didn't like the other sequels will find much of the same with this one.
Today's Rating-PG: Violence
**SPOILERS**
Recalling an earlier expedition, Stephen Banning, (Dick Foran) tells the story to Dr. John Banning, (John Hubbard) and Isobel Evans, (Elyse Knox) of finding a sacred tomb in the desert and how he was able to escape. Returning home to Massachusetts with the rest of his family, he is unknowingly followed by Mehemet Bey, (Turhan Bey) and Kharis, (Lon Chaney Jr.) the mummy. Constantly rattled by numerous local sources, and before long, the family members and some local friends turn up dead. When Babe Hansen, (Wallace Ford) arrives to help the family but can't stop the murders. Finally catching on to the mummy's business, the remaining members formulate a plan save themselves from the murderous creature.
The Good News: This wasn't all that bad when it really mattered. This is most apparent in the stalking scenes. This is where it's best aspects show, since each one is quite good in their own way. The first one is the creepiest, where it stalks the victim across the room, unable to utter anything at the approaching threat until the final death rattle. Another victim stalked through a darkened alleyway is particularly creepy as the shadows that come into play make it look really impressive. This is mainly helped by the impressive figure that Kharis cuts. He's large and looks powerfully built, which comes into great play when he begins to move around and become a threat to the victims with the manner of killing method. The two go hand-in-hand to make Kharis seem like an unstoppable force, and these two factors do make him. The film's at it's best when it goes for the finale, which is a really impressive site and way to end the film. There's a great amount of action that lasts for a long period of time. With the confrontations and stunts employed, this one keeps the interest level up, and then to add in all the great fire-work as well. With all the furniture and surroundings going up in flames and the stunts coming along the way is really impressive. This here is the film's best moment and really works to it's advantage. These help the film somewhat.
The Bad News: There isn't a whole lot here that doesn't work. One of the film's problems is that there's a lot of stock footage in this one. It's short enough as it is, with a barely seventy minute run-time. The first ten minutes of the film really is a flashback to the one before. This is a big disadvantage to the film as there's a sizable fraction of it's time eaten up by showing events from another film. Granted, they're important to setting up the story here, as it's officially a sequel to that one, there's a way to trim it without it feeling like extraneous footage. The mummy's look is also a little of a disappointment. There's really nothing here that suggests he looks decrepit and olden, that it doesn't really look like it's all old at all. This mummy looks quite bad and really isn't all that convincing as a creature thousands of years old. Otherwise, this here wasn't that bad.
The Final Verdict: With not a whole lot wrong, this one manages to be one of the better sequels out there and at least is watchable. Give it a shot if you're a fan of the series, but don't expect any miracles, while those who didn't like the other sequels will find much of the same with this one.
Today's Rating-PG: Violence