Once branded a video nasty, this unremarkable horror adventure returns from the grave and can be happily reconsidered as a lot of fun.
A group of robbers are in the process of uncovering the buried tomb of Safiraman to loot the apparent gold when a group of fashion models and their photographers stumble upon them. Wanting to take advantage of the glorious location, they spoil any chance for the crooks to find the gold in peace. When Safiraman’s ancient curse causes the mummied corpse to rise from the sarcophagus (along with his undead army), the intruders and the locals are put in mortal peril.
Not to be confused with the earlier Universal cloth-killers or the later CGI adventures, director Frank Agrama (who had previously made the superbly bad Queen Kong) makes his mummy movie in the style of the gore-filled zombie films of Lucio Fulci and George A. Romero. Languidly paced, Agrama makes the most of the authentic locations before unleashing the vengeance of Safiraman. This is where the film excels; the rising of the undead army is suitably creepy, and there’s bloodshed and mutilation aplenty. The motley crew of characters are annoying, which only brings an urge for the slaughter to begin much sooner.
Treasured Films’ Blu-ray makes the film look much better than we’d expect, considering the lack of elements (the transfer comes from German and Spanish 35mm prints). There are plenty of bonus features created specifically for this release, which delve deeper into this often-overlooked movie. Insights into the work of the director and the film itself are well worth your time, as is the look at other mummy pictures of the ‘80s. There’s even a little Easter egg for those looking for more! Altogether, another belting package from the boutique label.
