'The Mummy' Review: The Future Of Monster Movies Is Looking Bright

"The Mummy" may seem like just another action-packed sequel with a star-studded cast. But don't be fooled. It's so much more than that — to Universal Pictures anyway.

Directed by Alex Kurtzman, "The Mummy" is kicking off the studio's brand new monster movie franchise, "Dark Universe." It's a series of films with overlapping plots based on iconic monster characters from literature and film, such as "Bride of Frankenstein," "The Invisible Man" and "Dr. Jekyll." So it's safe to say the future of the "Dark Universe" rests upon this Tom Cruise-led franchise reboot at the box office hitting theaters this weekend.

In this latest iteration of "The Mummy" tale, treasure hunter Nick Morton (Tom Cruise) accidentally awakes a malevolent and vengeful ancient mummy princess (Sofia Boutella) who's set out to reclaim her rightful place as pharaoh. Enter the mysterious Dr. Henry Jekyll (Russell Crowe) and Egyptologist Jenny Halsey (Annabelle Wallis) to try and stop the mummy's wrath.

"The Mummy" has plenty of danger and tension. The story will keep you on the edge of your seat, and the film's magnificent set pieces and exhilarating action sequences work well with all the excitement. Cruise has got all the charisma and strong screen presence you've seen before. Crowe is also splendid, while Halsey and Boutella leave a bit to be desired.

If you're looking for a comedy this weekend, though, this isn't it. The casually tossed humor falls flat, and the pacing is awkward at times. But overall, "The Mummy" is imaginative, compelling and visually thrilling.

See it. This is Tom Cruise's movie, and he has undoubtedly awoken a fascinating world of gods and monsters— the “Dark Universe.”

Watch "The Mummy" cast members talk about their new movie:

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Top photo: Tom Cruise attends 'The Mummy - La Momie' Paris premiere (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)