Lee Cronin’s The Mummy: How Scary And Gory It Really Is

So, Lee Cronin is back in theaters with his wild new take on 'The Mummy', and honestly, if you’ve seen his stuff before, you probably know what you’re in for. Forget everything you remember about Brendan Fraser fighting CG sandstorms—Cronin’s clocked in with all the creepy tricks and especially the body horror he’s picked up from his 'Evil Dead Rise' days. Let’s break down what you’re actually getting yourself into if you check this one out.

Scary? Definitely. Full of Jump Scares? Not So Much

First thing’s first: if you walk in expecting Nun-style jump scares every five minutes, you’re going to be disappointed (or relieved, I guess, if jump scares are not your thing). Cronin’s 'The Mummy' trades in the constant shock factor for something heavier—tension that sits with you and a creeping sense of dread. The movie does have its share of legitimately scary moments, but it’s less about loud noises and more about the stuff that makes your skin crawl.

The story’s actually a pretty chilling update: after a family’s young daughter is kidnapped, she’s somehow found eight years later—inside a sarcophagus, no less. She comes home, obviously, but let’s just say, she’s not the same kid. The weirdness begins, and nobody’s okay about it.

If Blood and Guts Are Your Benchmark, Buckle Up

Now, on to the big question: just how gory is this thing? To put it bluntly, Cronin seems determined to make you squirm in your seat. If you watched 'Evil Dead Rise', you know he’s not squeamish, and 'The Mummy' might turn your stomach even faster. There are scenes that seem designed purely to make you regret ever eating at the theater. I won’t spoil everything, but let’s just say there's a moment with a nail clipper that I wish I could un-see, a scorpion scene that comes out of nowhere, and a downright disturbing bit with a kid getting way too DIY with their own teeth.

Does it go overboard? That’s subjective. But here’s the deal: Cronin doesn’t pull back from any of it. The gore is right there in your face, just like the unrated classic horror stuff that makes Evil Dead fans happy and everyone else a little bit queasy. Is it the scariest movie ever? No. Is it the grossest thing you’ll watch this summer? Could be!

The Main Cast—And Why Cronin Is The Guy For The Job

• Jack Reynor
• Laia Costa
• Verónica Falcón
• May Calamawy
• May Elghety
• Natalie Grace
• Shylo Molina
• Billie Roy
• Hayat Kamille

The cast puts in some serious mileage on the freakout meter here, with Jack Reynor and Laia Costa getting the brunt of the family trauma. The ensemble manages to sell the growing unease, so even if you’re not a gore aficionado, it’s worth watching them try to handle the increasingly bizarre family situation.

The Cronin Resume (Why All The Evil Dead Comparisons)

Think this all sounds suspiciously like something from the 'Evil Dead' world? It basically does. And, that’s not an accident—Cronin directed 'Evil Dead Rise' in 2023, and he’s now signed on as executive producer for the next two movies in that franchise: 'Evil Dead Burn' and 'Evil Dead Wrath'. Before all the Deadites, he kicked off with 'The Hole in the Ground' (2019), which leaned hard on disturbing, kid-based horror, too. In short: Cronin knows what he’s doing when it comes to unsettling family stories and top-tier gross-out effects.

'Where Cronin really levels up is making you want to look away—not because you’re scared, but because you’re genuinely grossed out.'

If you’re curious (or brave), 'The Mummy' is out now in theaters and on IMAX screens across the U.S. My advice: maybe don’t bring snacks.