Spoiler-Free Synopsis
An expedition to find a lost Pharaoh turns a young man into a vampiric killer.
Spoiler-free Review
Almost painfully close to a forgotten gem. We have an interesting premise (a mummy movie with no mummy? A vampire movie without an actual vampire?), decent acting, and about 2/3 of a decent script. But a rather pointless first 1/3 , an unnecessary Elder God, and a lackluster climax puts this baby in the mediocre tomb (1 point). Still, for all of its flaws, I kind of liked it (1.5 points). Give it a watch when you’re in the mood for Fifties horror, but have seen all the good ‘uns.
Overall Score: 2.5 total point out of a possible 4
Opening Thoughts
Here’s a new twist on a standard formula: I’m writing the Opening Thoughts first, before anything else. Even watching the movie. Who would have thunk it? Or cares, come to that.
In any case, here’s the deal: I know Horror Flicks. I will never, ever, ever claim to be an expert on the subject (especially now with the Internet making EVERYONE experts), but I know the subject. I’ve been studying it for years. It was at one point my great passion.
Through out all this time, I have never once heard of Pharaoh’s Curse. Not once.
This no doubt is a bad sign. I had never heard of The Neanderthal Man, either, and what a turkey that was. This might be a time waster or it might be g’dawful. I have no way of knowing. But it has a mummy in it that’s also a vampire… or maybe it’s a vampire that’s also a mummy… in any case, it has some appeal to me. Here is a film I can watch with few preconceived notions. A rare Horror treat for me, doncha know?
You who are reading this introduction are, of course, a step a head of the me who is writing this introduction. You have my Spoiler Frees and the silly little rating number to go by. You know better. But I don’t envy you.
At least not yet.
Shall we begin?
