In British-occupied Egypt, a band of archaeologists, lead by the loutish Quentin (George N. Neise), have gone on an expedition without permission. With rebellions rising up, the military sends Capt. Storm (Mark Dana), along with Syliva (Diana Brewster), the recently arrived lout’s wife, to find the team before the locals hear of it. On route, they meet a strange untiring woman, Simira (Ziva Rodann), who warns them that they must make it to the tomb before it is too late. By the time they arrive, Quentin has opened the sarcophagus, making it officially too late. Soon people and animals begin to die by having all their blood removed.
Pharaoh’s Curse is a low budget affair, but manages to avoid the cheapness that is the hallmark of 90% of mummy films. There are few sets, but they are properly dressed, and the exterior shots have a vast, desert-like feel. Better still, the make-up for the “mummy” is nicely done and more than the usual nominal bandages. For the opposite, see Hammer’s The Mummy’s Shroud.
Pharaoh’s Curse also rises ever-so-slightly above many of its competitors by doing something different. Not wildly different. But the same-old-same-old beginnings, with archaeologists ignoring a curse and breaking into a tomb, gives rise to a mummy who isn’t like every other one. OK, it isn’t astounding, but I am grading the imagination on display in mummy movies on a curve, so anything even slightly original is significant.
Storm is a bit too square-jawed to care about him, but Quentin being so loathsome does make Storm seem better. I did like Syliva as well as the party’s doctor, who keeps pointing out that desecrating tombs might not be a great plan. I was rather taken by Simira, but then the actress played a Batman TV show villain, so she was bound to be memorable. Best of all is the “mummy” and his surprisingly good creature design.
The story flows along pretty well until Storm makes the galling decision to allow the lout to continue his excavation in order to answer some “questions”: If you don’t believe in ancient magic, it is pointless; If you do, it is stupid.
Pharaoh’s Curse could have used more energy and a more exciting climax. It could be forgotten if it was a werewolf or vampire film, but passable mummy films are in short supply, so it necessary viewing for horror fans.