The Mummy: Zombie Movie Or Not?
Where do we draw the line on what is and what is not a zombie movie? We just can’t decide on our own, so every Monday we’ll post a new movie to be debated by, you, our readers and ask the question: Zombie Movie Or Not? Every Sunday we’ll post our findings and possibly strike that movie off our Zombie Movie List. The week should give you enough time to rent the movie if need be or you desire.
What every reader must keep in mind is that there are two basic types of zombie that every zombie movie based off of - the Voodoo Zombie and the Romero Zombie. The Voodoo Zombie, while not always raised by Voodoo necessarily, is basically a person, either undead or entranced, that is controlled by a person or entity for the purpose of completing tasks, often killing. Romero Zombies are basically mindless, flesh-eating undead whose bite will turn victims into zombies. Now, not all movies adhere to all of these rules, but if the basics are there, you got a zombie movie.
This weeks debate is over The Mummy (1932) Starring Boris Karloff.
IS: Everything from the way he moves to the fact that he is a re-animated corpse says that this is a zombie movie.
IS NOT: He may be back from the dead, but that doesn’t mean he’s a flesh-craving, mindless ghoul that will spread his undeadliness by bite or ritual.
Now it’s up to you, reader. What do you think? The Mummy: Zombie Movie Or Not?
although a mummy is really a zombie.i say no.mummy movie not zombie movie.
Overall, the figure of the mummy is another form of undead separate from zombies.
But what movie exactly are we referencing? Karloff died in 69 and his first appearance at The Mummy was in 1932. That a special edition or summat?
I take it we’re talking about mummies in general, and I VOTE NO, despite the implications created by Romero starting Diary of the Dead with a mummy movie. Maybe it’s just me but that (beginning of Diary) read as a direct homage/allusion to classic horror of the Karloff/Lugosi/Chaney/Price/William Castle/James Whale jumbling of aesthetics, and also to Karloff’s roles in Voodoo themed horror movies. So stylistically, The Mummy and films like it are arguably the primary influence on the modern zombie genre’s biggest influence Romero. But if you wanna see “zombies”, The Mummy films don’t have them, but the creatures featured were among the primary historic influences on “zombies”.
Well said, Kelly. I agree with you 100%.
Im going to go with NOT a zombie movie.
Mummys are not zombies, they might be reanimated dead, but they dont bite and infect others, a necessary hallmark for a zombie movie in my opinion.
I hate when a movie comes up that I *looks ashamed* have not seen. I would vote no just from what I’ve read above and considering mummies are not zombies in my eyes.. however I don’t think that I should have a valid vote on this one having not seen it.
(now if he bit or infected those he attacked into turning into mummies as well I might reconsider the above statement! .. sounds like he doesn’t though.)
Sorry, Zed-Killa, I forgot to change the date of the movie. Yes, we’re talking about the Mummy from 1932. My mistake has been corrected. Thanks.
Re-animated dead; yes. Flesh eating zombie; no.
The Mummy is no more a zombie movie then Dracula. Like Dracula, the mummy is a different form of undead but not a flesh-eating, infection-spreading zombie. So, no, The Mummy is not a zombie movie.
Defintiely Mummy…thats like callin Jesus a zombie haha