La venganza de la momia

... but unlike The Mummy (1959) or The Curse from the Mummy's Tomb, La Venganza de la Momia looks like all Naschy movies - flatly shot, cheaply made and clumsily staged, especially the Egyptian prologue. In Victorian London, some of the costumes and sets look better, though, and the story has nice feel of pulp Gothic. The cult favourite Helga Line as the villainess has screen presence sadly missed these days.

Paul Naschy has a duel role as Amenhotep/Assad Bey, an ancient Egyptian mummified Pharaoh, and the high priest who brought him back to life. In order For Amenhotep to achieve immortality, Assad Bey has to kidnap nubile young virgins in Victorian London for blood sacrifices.

This film was supposedly released in both a cut version (for Spain and Mexico) and an uncut international version, but the uncut version apparently no longer exists. What it would have included is a mystery, as it is hard to imagine anything more gruesome than the "face-smashing" scene. Was there really more gore? Or was it nudity?

Regardless, this is a pretty good film overall with some decent makeup effects and the gore already mentioned. Tracking down a copy seems to be a challenge, and it has never had a proper DVD release so far as I am aware. Jack Taylor also appears, and it would be great to get an audio commentary from him before it is too late.

This film begins with an evil Pharaoh named "Amenhotep" (Paul Naschy) who tortures and kills innocent people for his wicked amusement. In addition to that his favorite concubine "Amarna" (Rina Ottolina) takes equal pleasure in his wanton acts of cruelty as well. Eventually, however, this catches up to them as Amarna is stabbed to death while Amenhotep is given a rare poison which doesn't kill him but leaves him in a paralyzed state which--combined with a certain mummification ritual--entombs him for life in his sarcophagus. And then one day a British archaeological expedition led by man named "Professor Nathan Stern" (Jack Taylor) finds his tomb and excavates the sarcophagus to the British Museum of Natural History in London where Amenhotep is revived by a greedy sycophant named "Assad Bey" (also played by Paul Naschy) and his beautiful assistant "Zanufer" (Helga Line). Unfortunately, this isn't enough for Amenhotep as he then offers power and wealth to the two if they agree to do whatever he orders. To that end they are sent out to capture and kill young women so that Amenhotep can drink their blood in order to attain eternal life. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this film didn't follow the standard plot for a "Mummy film" in that the mummy was a pharaoh rather than the high priest. Likewise, the mummy didn't follow the orders of whoever revived him but gave them instead. Be that as it may, although it wasn't quite as good as some of the Hammer films it was okay for the most part with Helga Line and Maria Silva (as "Abigail") certainly adding to the scenery with their beauty and charm. Average.

A correct and estimable horror film starring Paul Naschy embodying nothing less than the Mummy.

In this case the story revolves around a cruel and sadistic Pharaoh who along with his queen enjoys executing innocent young people. But the fun ends when a priest decides to end forever the diabolic couple, stabbing her and burying him alive, but not before swearing eternal revenge.

After the centuries, the once powerful pharaoh, will return from the underworld in the heart of London, now become a monstrous mummy, unleashing his fury on those who have the bad luck to cross his path.

The film has a more than acceptable technical section, both in photography and decorated giving it an aspect of a film of the Hammer, really could pass without problems by a movie of the legendary British producer. The film is also really set in the British capital which is a very positive point.

As much the interpretations of the North American resident in Spain Jack Taylor as the one of Paul Naschy rayan to a good level without forgetting like no, to the feminine beauties that appear in all production of Spanish Fantanterror that boasts.

A decent and acceptable horror movie that without being a wonder is entertaining and well done.

THE MUMMY'S REVENGE opens in ancient Egypt, where the psychopathic sadist, and ruler, Amenhotep (Paul Naschy), spends his days torturing and killing beautiful women. He is helped in this by his concubine, Amarna (Rina Ottolina). Unfortunately for them, Amanhotep's nemesis has a cunning plan for their removal.

Many centuries later, archaeologists uncover Amenhotep's tomb, unleashing his diabolical curse upon the modern world.

Fans of Mr. Naschy should love this movie. He gets to play one of his best eeevil roles. Two actually, since he's both the mummy and the bizarre Assad Bey. There's lots of great killer mummy action, and some of it's pretty gory. The body count is surprisingly high.

Another Naschy classic with a fiery finale...