Reviews: The Mummy (2017) Movie Review / Ending Explained / FAQs
Genres: Horror, Thriller, Action, Fantasy, Adventure
Subgenres: Creatures, Cursed, Dangerous Exploration
Horror fans searching for a breakdown of The Mummy (2017) will find our review covers the plot, themes, and the shocking ending everyone talks about.
The Mummy (2017), directed by Alex Kurtzman, attempted to reboot the legendary Universal monster franchise for a modern audience while simultaneously launching the ambitious “Dark Universe” shared cinematic world. Starring Tom Cruise in a rare horror-action hybrid role, the film blends ancient curses, supernatural lore, and globe-trotting action—but the final result struggles to strike the right balance between horror and high-octane spectacle.
The Mummy (2017) – Unearthing a Cursed Reboot with Mixed Results
Plot, Themes, and Character Development
The story kicks off with Nick Morton (Tom Cruise), a soldier of fortune who accidentally unearths the tomb of Princess Ahmanet, an ancient Egyptian royal cursed and buried alive for attempting to summon the god of death. Once freed, Ahmanet unleashes a supernatural plague, targeting Nick as her chosen vessel for world domination.
While the setup taps into the rich tradition of mummy horror, The Mummy (2017) leans heavily into action-adventure territory, with ancient evil colliding with modern firepower and high-speed chases. Themes of immortality, destiny, and moral ambiguity are touched upon, but often take a backseat to explosive set pieces.
Character development is one of the film’s weaker elements. Nick is presented as a morally gray antihero, but his motivations remain unclear and inconsistent. Jenny Halsey (Annabelle Wallis) serves as the academic love interest but is largely underwritten. Ahmanet, played by Sofia Boutella, is arguably the most intriguing character—a powerful, vengeful entity driven by betrayal and a thirst for power—but her arc is rushed and underutilized.
Acting and Cinematography
Tom Cruise delivers his signature intensity and physical commitment, performing many of his own stunts, but his usual charisma is subdued by the muddled tone of the film. Sofia Boutella, as Princess Ahmanet, is both haunting and magnetic, offering a visually compelling antagonist that deserved more narrative depth.
Visually, the film is a mixed bag. The cinematography excels during the desert scenes and subterranean tomb sequences, creating a sense of scale and mystique. The zero-gravity airplane crash, a practical effects marvel, is a standout action moment. However, once the film shifts into urban chaos and CGI-driven mayhem, much of the atmosphere is lost.
The creature design is strong—Ahmanet’s decayed form, glowing eyes, and sand-based powers feel suitably monstrous—but the film never fully commits to horror, often pulling back just as things start to get dark and scary.
Directing Style, Strengths, and Weaknesses
Alex Kurtzman, in his directorial debut, juggles several competing tones: horror, comedy, action, and world-building. Unfortunately, the film often feels tonally inconsistent, unsure whether to emulate classic monster horror or a big-budget action thriller in the style of Mission: Impossible.
One of the biggest weaknesses lies in the film’s attempt to forcefully build a shared cinematic universe. The inclusion of Dr. Henry Jekyll (Russell Crowe) feels shoehorned, distracting from the central plot and functioning more like an ad for future films than an organic part of the story.
Still, the film has strengths. The pace is fast, the production design is impressive, and the concept of reviving ancient mythologies for modern horror remains appealing. The female mummy antagonist is a fresh twist, and there are glimmers of something more compelling buried beneath the sand.
Strengths:
Sofia Boutella’s commanding performance as Ahmanet
Visually striking set pieces and practical effects
Atmospheric tomb and desert exploration scenes
Action-packed pacing with blockbuster appeal
Unique twist on the classic mummy narrative
Weaknesses:
Underdeveloped characters and rushed relationships
Tonally inconsistent—neither fully horror nor fully action
Overemphasis on building a shared universe
Wasted potential of the villain’s mythology
Lack of emotional or narrative depth
Final Verdict & Score: 5/10
The Mummy (2017) is a visually entertaining but ultimately hollow reboot, weighed down by a bloated agenda to launch a cinematic universe instead of focusing on telling a strong, standalone story. While it delivers a few memorable sequences and an impressive villainess, it falls short of reviving the gothic horror legacy it aimed to honor. As a popcorn movie, it’s watchable—but as a franchise foundation, it crumbles under the pressure.
The Mummy (2017) – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is The Mummy (2017) connected to the Brendan Fraser Mummy movies?
No. The Mummy (2017) is not a continuation or reboot of the Brendan Fraser-led trilogy. It is a completely new iteration meant to launch Universal’s “Dark Universe” franchise, with a different tone, characters, and mythology. Tom Cruise’s character and the storyline are unrelated to the 1999–2008 films.
Who is Princess Ahmanet in The Mummy (2017)?
Princess Ahmanet, played by Sofia Boutella, is the main antagonist. She was an ancient Egyptian royal destined to rule, but after making a dark pact to summon the god Set and murdering her family, she was mummified alive and cursed. Awakened in the modern world, she seeks to fulfill the ritual by using Nick Morton (Tom Cruise) as her chosen vessel for Set.
What powers does Ahmanet have in The Mummy?
Ahmanet possesses necromantic abilities, including:
Controlling sand and wind
Reanimating corpses into her undead servants
Draining life force through physical contact
Telekinetic strength and mind control
These powers make her one of the most dangerous creatures in the modern world.
Why is Tom Cruise‘s character chosen by Ahmanet?
Nick Morton is chosen as the vessel for Set because he accidentally frees Ahmanet by unearthing her tomb and breaking the seal. She marks him as her “chosen,” intending to use him to bring the god of death into human form. His exposure to the curse also grants him superhuman resilience and visions of the future.
What is the “Dark Universe” and how was The Mummy supposed to fit into it?
The “Dark Universe” was Universal’s attempt to create a shared cinematic universe of classic monsters, including Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Invisible Man, and more. The Mummy (2017) was designed to be the launching point, introducing the secret organization Prodigium, led by Dr. Henry Jekyll (played by Russell Crowe), whose job is to monitor supernatural threats.
Is The Mummy (2017) a horror movie or an action movie?
It’s a hybrid of action, horror, and adventure, though it leans more toward action. While there are horror elements—zombies, jump scares, curses—the tone follows blockbuster formulas with high-speed chases, fight scenes, and globe-trotting mystery. Fans expecting classic horror may be disappointed by its more commercial style.
What happens to Dr. Jekyll in The Mummy?
Minor Spoiler: Dr. Henry Jekyll, head of Prodigium, is shown struggling to suppress his alter ego, Edward Hyde, using a serum. During the film, he momentarily loses control and transforms, giving viewers a glimpse of what was to come in the larger universe—though this storyline was never continued due to the franchise’s cancellation.
The Mummy (2017) – Ending Explained
The ending of The Mummy (2017) reveals that Nick sacrifices himself to stop Ahmanet and save Jenny Halsey. In a desperate move, he stabs himself with the ceremonial dagger, allowing the god Set to possess his body.
However, Nick resists Set’s control through sheer force of will, using his new powers to kill Ahmanet by draining her life force. After her defeat, Nick flees with Set’s powers still inside him, caught between man and god, cursed and immortal.
Jenny is left heartbroken, and Dr. Jekyll ominously states that Nick may be the only hope of understanding the monsters to come. In the film’s final scene, Nick is seen riding through the desert, cloaked and mysterious, accompanied by his reanimated friend Chris Vail, suggesting his quest to find redemption—or possibly control his curse.
This ambiguous ending was meant to set up future films in the “Dark Universe,” positioning Nick Morton as an antihero with godlike powers, but the cinematic universe was quietly shelved due to poor reception.
Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.
- The Mummy Rating Scores
- Our Score: 5/10
- Overall Score: 3.98/10
- IMDB: 5.4/10
- MetaCritic: 3.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 1.5/10
Look here for more movies starting with T and here you can find 2017 movies to watch on your favorite streaming service.