Top 10 SCARIEST Movie Mummies

#10: Pharaoh Sefirama

“Dawn of the Mummy” (1981)

Being born in Egypt, Frank Agrama had something of a connection to the creative material present within 1981’s “Dawn of the Mummy.” Make no mistake, however, Agrama’s main focus as a filmmaker was genre/exploitation pics, and “Dawn of the Mummy” therefore revels in the red stuff. Pharoah Sefirama couldn’t be more removed from the austere Universal tradition, and instead commands undead hordes to terrorize a group of models that disturb his tomb during a photo shoot. It’s a ridiculous premise for a horror movie, to be sure, but at least Sefirama’s violent attacks make good on that excellent “Dawn of the Mummy” one-sheet art.

#9: Amenhotep

“The Mummy’s Revenge” (1975)

Diehard fans of the Universal Monsters would do well in venturing over to Spain, in order to discover the cinematic work of Paul Naschy. “The Mummy’s Revenge” was just one of Naschy’s bloody creature features from his fertile 1970s heyday, a great example of how dedicated Naschy was to earning his reputation as “Spain’s Lon Chaney.” Amenhotep’s rotten appearance feels like a mixture between Hammer and Universal’s monster design, as“The Mummy’s Revenge” crawls along with plenty of atmosphere and costumed ambiance. Paul Naschy always committed to his roles, both villainous and heroic, with “The Mummy’s Revenge” serving as an interesting entry into the honestly underserved “mummy movie” genre.

#8: Queen Kara

“The Awakening” (1980)

Good things come to those who wait until the end of this 1980 adaptation of Bram Stoker's 1903 novel “The Jewel of Seven Stars.” That’s when “The Awakening,” which admittedly is more of a possession film than a traditional mummy movie, goes off the rails in the best possible way. Charlton Heston chews the scenery as “The Awakening” borrows more than a little bit from “The Omen’s” climactic moral conundrum. Does Heston’s character allow for the spirit of Queen Kara to possess his daughter, Margaret, or does he risk destroying his family in order to stop the spirit of this Egyptian queen from taking over the world?

#7: Queen Tera

“Blood From the Mummy’s Tomb” (1971)

We’re going to back-to-back Bram for this next entry, as the Hammer film “Blood From the Mummy’s Tomb” seeks out the same source material as our previous movie, “The Awakening.” This time, it’s the glamorous and lovely Valerie Leon who delivers double duty as the wicked Queen Tera as well as the potential vessel for hell on earth, Margaret. Hammer’s reputation for selling skin as well as shock was certainly exemplified by the promotional material and appearances by Leon in service to “Blood From the Mummy’s Tomb.” It wound up working well as a star vehicle for an actress whose prior resume primarily consisted of sex comedies and “Carry On” films. A mummy/possession movie with a swinging ‘70s atmosphere - yes, please.

#6: Popoca, the Aztec Mummy

“The Aztec Mummy Trilogy” (1957-58)

This one goes out to the old schoolers, those that can remember rabbit ears on the TV and weird imported horror movies airing on late night cable channels. The “Aztec Mummy Trilogy” refers to three quickly-made Mexican mummy movies that possess that fuzzy, UHF creepiness best watched in the dark with some pizza and adult beverages. “The Aztec Mummy,” “The Curse of the Aztec Mummy” and “The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy” are all certifiably campy, but not without their charm, while Popoca itself retains a cool, dried-up appearance. It’s a retro mummy that’s perfect for monster kids in the mood for something vintage.

#5: The Mummy

“Waxwork” (1988)

Now we’re talking: an underrated mummy from an equally underdiscussed horror flick from the late 1980s. “Waxwork” is a great example of a horror-comedy done right, where the levity nicely balances out some legitimate scares and excellent monster make-up. The mummy here combines a face only a zombie could love with the traditional bandages most fans associate with this classic creature. The monster’s aim is to, in the film’s words, “condemn a painful death to those who desecrate the Tomb of Ra'ul.” And he certainly delivers in this regard, shambling and attacking with menace that matches the great special effects from Bob Keen and Image Animation.

#4: Lot 249

“Tales from the Darkside: The Movie” (1990)

This anthology film did a great job at bringing to the silver screen television’s classic “Tales from the Darkside” series. The first tale, titled “Lot 249,” stars a young Julianne Moore as a graduate student who pays the price for cheating a young man named Edward Bellingham. The mummy that winds up being summoned by Bellingham is wonderfully actualized by the K.N.B. EFX Group, a macabre and rotting creature that easily possesses the required menace and malevolence. “Lot 249” also features, in typical “Tales From the Darkside” fashion, an equally morbid ending, as Bellingham’s “regards” return from the tomb one final time.

#3: The Mummy“The Monster Squad” (1987)

Shane Black and Fred Dekker’s ode to everything monstrous remains one of the 1980s finest love letters to the classic Universal Monsters. Dracula, The Wolf Man, Frankenstein’s Monster, The Gill Man and yes, The Mummy, all make appearances here, and all are great. What’s awesome about “The Monster Squad” is how each creature gets their time to shine, whether it be The Wolf Man’s tortured self-loathing or Count Dracula’s villainous evil. The Mummy, predictably, doesn’t have much to say, but it doesn’t really need to, right? Instead, it just delivers what we want from a traditional, bandaged Egyptian Pharaoh: shamble around, moan and threaten us at molasses speed. What’s not to love?

#2: Kharis

“The Mummy” (1959)

The character of Kharis is one that appears within both the Universal and Hammer worlds of horror. The former can be found in such “Mummy” sequels as “The Mummy’s Ghost,” whereas the Kharis from Hammer’s 1959 remake of “The Mummy” was portrayed by none other than Sir Christopher Lee. The actor’s towering, unstoppable mummy feels just as threatening as Lon Chaney, Jr’s Kharis - true physical threats that aren’t just mere window dressing. Instead, Kharis’ evil possesses some real weight, with each attack building upon the elements of suspense and dread found within most of the classic “mummy” movies from this venerable franchise.

#1: Imhotep

“The Mummy” (1932)

It should be said that Boris Karloff actually doesn’t spend all that much time within the iconic make-up during his appearance in the original “Mummy” from 1932. The actor is disguised in human form under the moniker of Ardath Bey for the lion’s share of this film. That said, what we do see not only became the stuff of horror legend but went on to influence countless performances in Karloff’s wake. The slow, methodical movements, unaccompanied by music, and Karloff’s mesmerizing stare all work hard in making his Imhotep a king amongst mummies. The remake from 1999 was certainly fun for its time, but in this case? The OG remains unconquerable.

What’s your favorite movie mummy of all time? Let us know in the comments!