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.

Vengeance of the Mummy, The (1973)

** (out of 4)

Spanish horror film has Paul Naschy playing three roles including a mummy who returns to life after 1000 years to seek vengeance and regain his long lost love. Sadly I had to view this in a poor quality, P&S, English dubbed bootleg so hopefully someone will release a legit, good copy. The film was simply decent but it's hard to judge without seeing it in its true form. Jack Taylor co-stars and steals the show but Naschy is okay in his duel human parts. His turn as the mummy isn't a total success but it's an interesting performance. The American dub has the mummy constantly moaning, sounding like he's in a porno so this gave off some unintentional laughs. The violence level is quite high with several throat slashings and head crushings.

I don't really want to be too harsh on this film because it did have its moments, a cast of lovelies and a London location. Also, surely anyone watching a Paul Naschy knows pretty much what to expect. Average acting, wooden sets, predictable storyline... and yet it is likable enough. Far too many short and unnecessary scenes that far from taking the story forward simply slow it down and people like Helga Line, great though she is, could have been so much more profitably employed had she been given more of the action. But then, this is a Paul Naschy film and wouldn't have that distinctive feel to it if it were any other way and he certainly has his fans.

Are all the plots of Mummy films the same? It seems like that to me. Even those Brendan Fraser ones has the mummy being some evil guy murdered for being a dick then being reanimated only to look for the reincarnation of his lover and enabler. This one, like that one, and Voodoo Black Exorcist, has that plot.

Paul Naschy is the jerk Pharoh who thought that murdering loads of women for a laugh was a long-term career move, so when his side-kick murders him and his missus he vows revenge, which he doesn't get as by the time his ancestor gets him resurrected the guy who killed him is long dead. Nevertheless, it's strange that the daughter of the guy who arranged to have him dug up looks a lot like that chick who was involved in all that blood drinking.

Yeah, the plot's boring and crappy but the execution of said plot is not, despite Jack Taylor being the bland hero. This is because Naschy knows what horror fans want, so the mummy cuts a swathe through London's cops and anyone else who gets in his way, including some security guard who gets his head crushed for his trouble.

It's business as usual to be honest, but if you like Paul Naschy films, you'll like this one. He doesn't put a foot wrong and even has a random bit of gore when the mummy goes around smashing his victim's heads like they are over ripe melons.