Lee Cronin’s The Mummy Stirs Up Test Screening Turmoil

Anticipation for Lee Cronin’s take on The Mummy has been building for months, but recent developments suggest the journey to the big screen is proving anything but smooth. The horror reboot, due to arrive in cinemas this April, has apparently left test audiences unsettled—and not in the way the studio might have hoped.

Reports have emerged that preview showings of the film have not gone down well. According to FeatureFirst, the reaction was so poor that James Wan, a producer and a well-known figure in the genre, is said to have left one screening before it finished. While such claims should be treated with a degree of scepticism, they’ve certainly added fuel to the fire. The plot, as revealed, centres on a journalist’s daughter who returns from the dead after eight years, bringing with her a supernatural nightmare that engulfs her family.

Unsettling Content and Audience Reactions

Following his success with Evil Dead Rise, Cronin has turned his attention to one of horror’s most iconic tales, offering a version that’s both bold and twisted. The story begins with a young girl vanishing in the desert, only to reappear years later. What should be a moment of joy for her family quickly descends into terror, as the reunion takes a sinister turn. The cast includes Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, Verónica Falcón, May Calamawy, May Elghety, Natalie Grace, Shylo Molina, Billie Roy, and Hayat Kamille.

FeatureFirst also claims the film contains a particularly graphic sequence, described as "truly vile" and surpassing the gore of recent horror releases.

There is one scene that features a "scorpion that crawls into somebody’s mouth and severs their vocal cords," which then forces someone to "stick their fingers down that person’s throat and press on their cords allowing them to speak."

With a runtime of two hours, it seems this is just a taste of what’s in store.

Creative Risks and Studio Concerns

It remains unclear whether the film’s more extreme moments are to blame for the negative feedback, but those hoping for Cronin to push boundaries will likely not be disappointed. Evil Dead Rise was hardly a gentle watch, and this new project appears to raise the bar even further in terms of intensity and shock value.

Test screenings are notorious for their unpredictability, and it’s worth remembering that initial reactions don’t always reflect a film’s eventual reception. Superman, for instance, faced mixed responses in early previews, only to fare much better with the general public upon release. Still, the studio’s reported consideration of a title change hints at a certain level of unease behind the scenes.

Looking Ahead to Release

With its release date set for 17 April 2026, all eyes are on how Cronin’s vision will ultimately be received. The combination of a celebrated director, a strong cast, and a willingness to embrace the darker side of horror could yet prove a winning formula—or it might just be a bit too much for some. Either way, The Mummy is shaping up to be one of the year’s most talked-about releases, for better or worse.