There’s a troubling change in your daughter when she’s lost her craving for candy but has developed a taste for roaches.
Her nails are trashed, her movements are distorted and she bites; she delivers headbutts from hell. Her once innocent looks have morphed into something resembling a lovechild of Freddy Krueger and Regan.
This is the vision of Irish director Lee Cronin, who offers a fresh take on the mummy legend.
First brought to the big screen in 1932, it gained popularity in 1999 through Stephen Sommers’ adventures. At its core, the mummy represents a long‑dead Egyptian, occasionally revived by human meddling. Once awakened, it seeks souls to torment, hosts to possess.
Katie becomes a victim of human malevolence, and much of Cronin’s take poses a question: can Katie return to her former self?
Cronin’s debut feature film, The Hole in the Ground (2019), relied more on suspense than what would be included in his toolbox of horror.
Three years later, Cronin unleashed his potential in Evil Dead Rise, a nod to Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead of 1981, proving a keen eye for sinister yet graceful twitches of the villain’s body and not shying away from brazen gore and slash. Cronin also has a heart for the human experience.
In Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, every tool has found its place and purpose.
Cronin’s latest includes notable performances by Jack Reynor (Flora and Son, Kin) as Charlie and May Calamawy (Gladiator II, Black Adam) as Dalia .
Another hallmark of Cronin’s artistry appears in this film: editing by Brian Shaw, who also edited Evil Dead Rise. The suspense often shifts into comedy through quick, unexpected cuts.
Though many films have featured mummies, Cronin’s reboot elevates the genre.
Lee Cronin’s The Mummy makes previous mummy films appear like Mickey Mouse cartoons.
Lee Cronin’s The Mummy (2026)
Directed and written by: Lee Cronin
Starring: Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, May Calamawy, Natalia Grace, Shylo Molina, Billie Roy, Veronica Falcon
Running time: 134 minutes
Premiere: April 17, 2026
