In June 2025, I had the opportunity to visit the set of **“Mummy’s Curse”** in Ireland. Between shoots, I spoke with director Lee Cronin, who also wrote the script, and discovered the works that have influenced his career. Below, everything you need to know about the production, the cast, and the expectations for this horror that is already playing in national theaters.
## Interview with Lee Cronin: the influences that shaped his style
During a break in filming, I asked Cronin which movies inspired him to become a director. He answered without beating around the bush, listing classics that marked his childhood and still influence his approach to horror today:
– **“Jaws” (Jaws)** – “It was the first time I was truly scared. Seeing Ben Gardner’s head emerging from the boat hull made me realize I could also be scared by what I watch.”
– **“Evil Dead 2” (The Evil Dead 2)**
– **“The Shining” (The Shining)**
– **“Rosemary’s Baby” (Rosemary’s Baby)** – “I like horror movies that also have strong characters.”
– **John Hughes comedies** – “Before ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ and ‘Home Alone’ were major influences in my childhood.”
Cronin emphasized that, for him, horror works best when it creates an emotional connection with the audience: “I have always been drawn to stories where we care about the characters and then put them in terrible situations.” He also mentioned that he likes to balance horror with lightness, citing reviews of his last film that called it “too dark” and “too funny.”
## Production Details and What to Expect from “Mummy’s Curse”
– **Direction and screenplay:** Lee Cronin
– **Production:** James Wan, Jason Blum and John Keville, with executive production by Michael Clear, Judson Scott, Macdara Kelleher and Cronin himself
– **Main cast:** Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, May Calamawy, Natalie Grace and Veronica Falcón
– **Synopsis:** The young daughter of a journalist mysteriously disappears in the desert. Eight years later, the devastated family receives her return, which quickly turns into a nightmare.
– **MPAA rating:** Extreme violence, gore, disturbing images, strong language and brief drug use
– **Runtime:** 2 hours and 17 minutes – longer than the average Blumhouse and Atomic Monster productions (usually between 90 and 120 minutes)
The film’s premise, according to the director, is to present the mummy’s story in a **domestic setting**, something unprecedented in the genre. This approach aims to make the horror more immediate and impactful for the viewer.
**“Mummy’s Curse” is already playing in national cinemas and promises to be the most grotesque and terrifying horror of the year so far.**
