The Mummy's Ghost Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

The Mummy's Ghost Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 23, 2017

Speeding up the sequel process, 1944 was a big year for the “Mummy” series, offering two pictures in six months, establishing a serial-like release schedule to entice audiences to stick around for more Kharis (Lon Chaney Jr.) madness. The first effort is “The Mummy’s Ghost,” which refocuses Egyptian horrors to suburban Massachusetts, following Kharis’s hunt for his lost lover, Ananka, whose soul has been transferred to Amina (Ramsay Ames), a local woman who’s overwhelmed by all the monstrous attention as the Mummy attempts to reclaim his long dead bride.

Trying to keep series momentum going, “The Mummy’s Ghost” picks up with another high priest ceremony, this time gifting Yousef (John Carradine) the challenge of reclaiming Kharis, who’s somehow still alive in Massachusetts, only lured out into the daylight by the smell of the leaf-based serum -- a loony plot point the producers double down on here, determined to make extended conversations about boiling Mummy tea dramatically urgent. “The Mummy’s Ghost” is better off with the hunt for Amina, putting an innocent into the line of fire, making her the treasure of the sequel, with everyone after the reluctant royalty for various reasons. While action is dialed down, questions of identity are compelling, leading to an almost “King Kong”-style conclusion that works, delivering high drama for a short movie that doesn’t introduce much in the way of newness to the chase.

The Mummy's Ghost Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

John Carradine is practically made for HD display, with his long face and deep features coming through superbly on the AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Sharpness is strong throughout, making the most out of Carradine's appearance and his co-stars, finding textures on costuming and set decoration, while the star of the show, Kharis, offers necessary clarity to examine make-up work. Delineation is stable and communicative. Grain is fine and filmic. Source is clean.

The Mummy's Ghost Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is a slight upgrade from "The Mummy's Tomb," but hiss remains detectable. Scoring is a little more animated for this offering, provided with satisfactory instrumentation and comfortable highs that never sound shrill. Dialogue exchanges are clear and natural, also dealing well with audio effects to support the fantasy mood. Sound effects are harder and louder, but inherently so.

The Mummy's Ghost Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (1:07, SD) is included.

The Mummy's Ghost Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

While the concept of Kharis lurching around yards and streets is amusing, "The Mummy's Ghost" doesn't transform into camp. It's deadly serious about the American haunting, working up some community panic and academic debate before giving in to expected violence. Again, this is slight work, without much invention, but with lowered standards, "The Mummy's Ghost" does provide plenty of Kharis and his murderous, serum-swallowing appetites.