4 Star

Hammer Horror Had it all Wrapped Up.

The 1959 version of The Mummy from the British horror film studio, Hammer Horror, comes as a limited Edition Blu-ray release by Aim Publicity. Filled with Special Features and Limited Edition Features (see Below). Directed by Horror legend Terence Fisher (The Brides of Dracula, The Revenge of Frankenstein, The Man Who Could Cheat Death, The Hound of the Baskervilles) and with the greatest British Horror acting stars of the time Peter Cushing, and Christopher Lee. So sit back, grab a pillow and turn off the lights, if you dare.

It is 1895, and the English are in Egypt. After three long years of searching for the tomb of High Priestess Ananka (Yvonne Furneaux, La dolce vita, The Lion of Thebes), the father and son team of Stephen (Felix Aylmer, Ivanhoe, Knights of the Round Table) and John Banning (Peter Cushing, Star Wars, Dr. Who and the Daleks, The Revenge of Frankenstein), along with uncle Joseph Whemple (Raymond Huntley, A French Mistress, The Pure Hell of St. Trinian’s) have found evidence of Ananka’s guard being present in the area where they are digging for the tomb. John isn’t able to help as he has broken his leg and refuses to go back to main camp and have it reset. They reckon that they are just four or five days from getting to the front of the tomb.

Just as they are about to step into the untouched tomb, an Egyptian follower of the ancient gods Mehemet Bey (George Pastell, Licensed to Kill, The Stranglers of Bombay) pleads with Stephen not to desecrate the tomb. But who else is going to find your relics if we don’t do it?

He who robs the graves of Egypt, dies.

Stephen and Joseph find that the tomb is intact, and they proceed to cut the seal and enter the tomb of Ananka, they find it has been untouched since she was laid to rest. Joseph leaves to go tell John of the good news, as Stephen starts cataloguing the finds, one of which is a booby-trapped scroll of life box. John and Joseph hear a blood-curdling scream.

We are told of the history of Ananka and her priest Kharis (Christopher Lee, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, Howling II, The Hobbit 3D Extended Box Set) who in life was forbidden to have anything to do with the High Priestess, but in death, things are not so black and white, and with the scroll of life he has a nefarious idea. But he is caught and sentenced to a life of the undead to look after his Priestess for the rest of time. Now he is awake and the followers of the great God Karnak are out for vengeance.

The tomb has an aura of menace, there is something evil in there uncle Joe… I felt it.

The Mummy is a classic horror movie from when Hammer Horror was King, and now on this limited edition Blu-ray, it is a definite for the horror fan or a great way to start a collection.

The Mummy (Limited Edition) is available on Blu-ray

Special Features 

Main feature presented in original UK theatrical aspect ratio 1.66:1 and alternative full frame1.37:1
New audio commentary by film academic Kelly Robinson
Archive audio commentary by Marcus Hearn and Jonathan Rigby
An Appreciation of The Mummy by David Huckvale
The Music of The Mummy
Unwrapping The Mummy
The House of Horror: Memories of Bray
The Hammer Rep Company
Original Promo Reel
Stills Gallery

Limited Edition Contents

Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Graham Humphreys
Soft cover book with new essays by Kat Ellinger, Lindsay Hallam and Kevin Lyons plus production stills
4 collectors’ art cards