With Leigh Whannell’s reimagining of Wolf Man hitting theaters this weekend, there’s no better time to get reacquainted with the original Universal Monsters. They were the center of the horror genre in the 30s and 40s after all. While this original shared universe housed many classics and a few underrated gems, none are arguably as overlooked as 1932’s The Mummy. The Karl Freund-directed film starring Boris Karloff as the title monster is one of the best-reviewed horror stories of its era. Now NECA is unearthing a new haunting action figure based on the popular movie monster.
Based on Universal’s first iteration of The Mummy, a part of NECA’s Ultimate seven-inch scale horror line, this figure depicts Karloff’s Egyptian high priest Ardath Bey. This is after the character is woken up and has unwrapped his traditional Mummy look. The sophisticated-looking figure in disguise comes with a sarcophagus full of accessories. This includes multiple interchangeable hands and heads, an oil lamp, a cane, the Scroll of Thoth, and a sacrificial dagger. This is the third Mummy figure NECA has done in this line, with the first two featuring Karloff’s villain in his wrapping — one was black and white, while the other was colorized. They also released a massive accessory set for The Mummy which included the character’s tomb.
What Is ‘The Mummy’ About?
The Mummy follows the newly resurrected Egyptian prince Imhotep (Karloff) after a group of archaeologists discovers his remains. They inadvertently use the Scroll of Thoth to bring him back to life. Under the alias of Ardath Bay, Imhotep is after the long-lost love of his life. When he does find her, he tries to revive her in a sacrificial manner. While the original Mummy shared a few visual similarities to what the character would be known for in later films and TV shows like Scooby-Doo, The Mummy is a unique film in the Universal Monster lineup. It’s thematically a much darker tale akin to later stories like The Wolf Man and has thrilling elements that would become household staples of the slasher sub-genre.
The Mummy was a proto-slasher where Karloff’s genius acting talent was on full menacing display. Karloff was best known for playing Frankenstein’s Monster, but his turn as Imhotep was just as iconic. This would be the only time his version of the character would be focused on. The latter sequels would have a different mummy altogether. Also, even though the 1999 film starring Brendan Fraser has eclipsed the original in terms of popularity, the 1932 version still has a leg up on it critically. The first Mummy is currently certified fresh with an 89% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Where Can You Stream ‘The Mummy’?
The Mummy currently isn’t available to watch on a traditional streaming service, but you can rent the film for $3.99 on most major paid VOD platforms like Fandango at Home. Before your next Universal Monster marathon, the trailer can be viewed below. Karloff’s new Mummy NECA figure is currently being shipped to retailers, but you can pre-order it on Big Bad Toy Store’s website for $36.99.
Watch on Fandango at Home
