[MHN Seoul] Universal released the first installment in cinematic universe 'Dark Universe' film series, 'The Mummy'(Directed by Alex Kurtzman) in Korea on June 6, 2017 in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D. Yet, it is still at the top of the South Korean box office including earnings and profitability. 

'Dark Universe' draws from the Universal Studio's long history of monster films from back in the golden age of Hollywood. On May 22, a picture of the Dark Universe stars was debuted, which assembled Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Russell Crowe, and Sofia Boutella. With 'The Mummy' reboot starring Tom Cruise and Sofia Boutella, and co-starring Russel Crowe as Dr. Henry Jekyll, Universal firmed up their plan for a follow up casting Javier Bardem as 'Frankenstein's Monster' in 'Bride of Frankenstein, 2019' and starring Johnny Depp as 'The Invisible Man'. They currently have more films officially planned and expanded, 'Dracula', 'Van Helsing', 'The Creature From The Black Lagoon', 'The Wolfman', 'The Phantom of the Opera' and 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame'.

The Mummy stars Tom Cruise as protagonist Nick Morton (originally name Tyler Colt), a special-forces soldier who is sent on a mission to the Iraqi desert in pursuit of terrorists. Instead, he is only interested in looting antiquities to sell. Now, he tries to search for treasure marked as 'Haram' on the map he stole from an archaeologist, 'Jenny Harsey'(Annabelle Wallis). Then, a long-hidden tomb becomes uncovered in the midst of dodging bullets. While they transport the sarcophagus of 'Ahmanet'(Sofia Boutella) on a military aircraft, his friend 'Chris Vail'(Jake Johnson) becomes zombie-like, and soon after that, the plane crashes unexpectedly. Jenny gets to survive with a parachute by Nick's help, but everyone dies eventually. However, Nick Morton wakes up without a scratch in the morgue. Turns out, he is cursed by awakening the ancient Egyptian princess, Ahmanet. She was mummified alive and entombed far away instead of taking her rightful place as Pharaoh in ancient Egypt, because she murdered her father, his second wife and their infant son. Jenny takes him to the mysterious group called 'Prodigium' and the leader of it, 'Dr. Hendy Jekyll'(Russel Crowe) for help.

As Tom Cruise has showed fascinating action scenes, he is still a credible action hero. Unlike the concerns that his unique action and humor style might conceal the ancient monster movie, the new Mummy is a well hybrid of action, horror and romance in darkness. After breaking out as the assassin with blade legs, 'Gazelle' in Kingsman: The Secret Service, Sofia Boutella plays another female villain, 'Ahmanet', who is beautiful and attractive, but pure evil. She sucks the life out of various victims by giving them a deadly kiss to transform them into zombies and herself in human form. There are some genuinely scary moments like popping out unexpectedly and intense horror scenes. 'The Mummy' and the identity of Dr. Jekyll not being properly identified make expectation high for the next dark action blockbuster, 'Dark Universe' films of the ancient gods and monsters.

Now showing. 110 minutes. 

pinkcat@mhns.co.kr