The Mummy's Tomb Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

The Mummy's Tomb Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 23, 2017

Perhaps learning their lesson in 1940’s “The Mummy’s Hand,” Universal Pictures goes all monster, all the time with 1942’s “The Mummy’s Tomb,” which wisely introduces the wrath of Kharis (now played by Lon Chaney Jr.), the titular nightmare, from the get-go, hitting the ground running for a change. While a throwaway effort that’s only an hour long, “The Mummy’s Tomb” course corrects a few ideas to help keep the franchise staggering along, with the production making sure to keep its greatest asset within striking distance for a change.

Hilariously, for a 60-minute-long movie, the opening 12 minutes are set aside to recap “The Mummy’s Hand,” working through the struggles of hapless archaeologists as they uncover the cursed remains of Kharis, who’s protected by an evil order using a leaf-based serum to keep the monster alive and under control. This leaves “The Mummy’s Tomb” 48 minutes to introduce a new wicked caretaker for Kharis, who’s quickly unleashed to exact revenge on the goons who unearthed him before. There’s not much of a plot to the sequel, which basically rehashes what’s come before, but the big selling point of “The Mummy’s Tomb” is the very presence of Kharis, who is truly the star of the film, finally permitted time to stalk victims and complicate survival plans for anyone within reach. The creature doesn’t inspire the same fear factor as before, but newfound run time freedom is welcome, giving fans more bang for their buck.

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

The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation captures all "The Mummy's Tomb" offers, delivering appealing detail on Kharis and his wrinkled features, while sets are explored in full. Textures remain on costuming as well, keeping period outfits interesting. Delineation is secure, confidently examining shadow play. Whites are balanced. Source is in strong shape, free of distracting blemishes.

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

Unlike "The Mummy's Hand," "The Mummy's Tomb shows its age on the 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix. Hiss is more prominent, carrying throughout the feature, but dialogue exchanges aren't ruined. Dramatic intent is understood, finding comfortable extremes as horror elements are introduced. Scoring isn't dynamic but it's perceived, supporting as intended without sharp instrumentation. Atmospherics are blunt but adequate.

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

• A Theatrical Trailer (1:06, SD) is included.

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

Without anything significantly dramatic to chew on, brevity is a gift to "The Mummy's Tomb," which works through its chases and panic relatively quickly, becoming far more action-oriented than its predecessor. However, staleness is felt throughout the viewing experience, especially when routine begins to form, making the effort more about cheap thrills than sustained suspense.