Ancient Evil: Scream of the Mummy

Rating:
Summary: Threatened Aztec Apocalypse, but with Cute Stars
Review: "Ancient Evil: Scream of the Mummy" is a moderately successful low-budget thriller. Professor Cyphers (played by Brenda Blondell) and her students have possession, in a small academic museum, of an unprecedented Aztec mummy. The mummy came from a ruined pyramid-temple near Mexicali, a location far to the north of known Aztec territory. According to the writings at the temple, the mummy is to assist the High Priest of the rain god Tlaloc in a virgin's sacrifice that will trigger a catastrophic rain storm sweeping away the opponents of the Aztec gods. The scientists agree everyone knows this can't happen nowadays.

The students are a mixed bag. Don (played by Jeff Peterson) and Arlando (played by Russell Richardson) are the hunky, diligent male students. Norman (played by Trent Latta) is the slender, blonde geek, who loves Mexican archaeology. Morris (played by Michael Lutz) is motivated primarily by Janine (played by Michelle Erickson), a good student willing to dally. Then there is Stacey (played by Ariauna Albright) who likes to mention that she is still a virgin, though she has a jock boyfriend, Scott (played by Christopher Cullen). Now the audience can guess something can and will happen.

Morris starts the ball rolling by stealing an amulet-bracelet off the mummy to give Janine as a love token. She notes that this is wrong and that she will get around to returning it some day. Morris seeks excitement in going after Janine and wants the others to escape the dorm to get in a partying mood, perhaps searching the museum for the professor's liquor cache. Meanwhile, separately, Norman is able to hold his hands over the mummy, causing it to come back to life. It turns out that Norman is the direct descendant of the Aztec High Priest of Tlaloc and wants to sacrifice a virgin to start the Final Cataclysm. The mummy sneaks up on the unsuspecting scientists and uses a neat steel sickle-knife to dispatch them one by one. Of course there is a final confrontation with the virgin tied to the sacrificial table. Does Tlaloc get to show off?

While the premise is unhistoric, the story is straightforward and apocalypticly grand. The costume for the mummy was pretty good, although allowing for a conveniently unwrapped face . The museum sets were not convincing (few exhibits and lit by candles), and the treatment of the mummy (on an open table, often covered and uncovered with a sheet) seemed less than state of the preservationists' art, but was maybe necessary for the movie. Skin fans should enjoy what they get to see of Don, Morris, and Norman; in addition, they and Arlando were the best of the moderate cast. The women stay dressed and performed adequately. There were good aspects to the movie.

There are quibbles too. There is a lengthy lightening storm outside with simultaneous thunder and lightning. The students are a bit too eager to break into the museum, even for distraction. The mummy knows its way around without much instruction. At one point it looked as though Don had punched his fist into the interior of the stout mummy's belly. Don was too fond of a brown towel; Norman of necklaces and black nail polish. The steel sickle-knife never has blood on it, even though some corpses are very red. The mummy-screaming in the title is misleading. Other petty stuff adds annoyance.

Overall, a mid- to low-three star rating.

Rating:
Summary: One of DeCoteau's Best Flicks
Review: I bought this movie because I am a big fan of director David DeCoteau's B movies, and look forward to the somewhat silly horror he offers in all of his B movies. This movie was better than his average film though; and apart from a few mistakes in the plot about the Aztec culture, (they didn't have wrapped mummys, the characters repeated mispronunciation of the Aztec Rain God Tlaloc's name, its pronounced Tah-Lock not Ta-Lay-Lock) Then there was actor Trent Latta's New Wave looking Aztec High Priest outfit, that may have been a little over the top too, but well, it did help to make it a great mummy flick. I can honestly say that the whole cast did a good job acting as well, particularly Michael Lutz in his first role, playing the obnoxious jock (Morris); Trent Latta who played the lead villian (Norman); and Jeff Peterson who played the hero (Don). They all did a great job. All in all, I give it an 9 maybe 10 out of 10.

Rating:
Summary: Lighten Up
Review: I liked this good cheesy fun horror film. Of course it's supposed to be cheesy. Life aint all drama ya know. I thought it was pretty good but it's not to be taken seriously.

Rating:
Summary: Great Mummy flick!!!!!
Review: This is really a good Mummy movie.I admit that when I looked at the back of the box I didn`t know what to think but being a huge fan of Mummy movies I had to rent it and I am glad I did. Ofcourse this is not like the Mummy with Brendan Frazier because it its not suposse to be.This is the first or one of the first Mummy flicks I can recall about a Aztec Mummy.You get really use to this movie because the guys stay in one place and doesn`t jump from city to city like other movies.I like films amd horror films that focus on in one place.As for the Mummy himself,he really isn`t a bad looking mummy,he carrys his sared stabbing weapon and as for the gore there really isn`t any at all and the acting isn`t bad either by the youngsters.In My opinion this movie is presented like a old late 30s,40S flick,especialy the begaining of the movie when the credits are shown. Overall I like this movie.Here is a tip,when you watch the movie listen as close as you can to the music,the music I love and it fit perfectly,it is composed by new compposer Jared DePasquale. By listening to this you may want more of his music,I know I did.