Discussing The Mummy With Generation Video
Last night, I had the honor of returning to co-host the Generation Video podcast with Kairos Publications voice actor Wes. It was a blast to revisit 1999’s The Mummy, a woefully underappreciated neo-pulp masterpiece in the company of a true film buff.
As the dead cat bounce after Cultural Ground Zero, 1999 brought us a cornucopia of blockbuster action films. Had The Mummy not been up against the likes of The Phantom Menace and The Matrix, it’s hard to see how it wouldn’t now be looked back upon as a landmark film and a major cultural touchstone.
Screen cap: Universal Pictures
What’s noteworthy about The Mummy is that as recently as a quarter century ago, Hollywood could still make a kitchen sink genre movie that doesn’t feel cluttered or convoluted. Not only is this film rightly noted for its Indiana Jones DNA, the main character’s dual blazing pistols evoke more than a hint of The Shadow, and many scenes ooze Lovecraftian atmosphere. And Appendix N fans will recognize classic TTRPG archetypes in the motley cast of characters.
At the end of the day, The Mummy may just fall short of being greater than the sum of its parts, but it is as good as the sum of myriad excellent elements.
But don’t just take my word for it.
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Brian Niemeier is a best-selling novelist, editor, and Dragon Award winner with over a decade in newpub. For direct, in-person writing and editing insights, join his Patreon.