Popular Culture Review Vol. 13, No. 1, January 2002 | Page 111

The M u m m y

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while protecting that creature’s object of desire. Many recent titles have found a
degree of audience appeal by experimenting with these conventions, particularly
through the inclusion of women as members of the protecting group rather than
solely as the object of the invader’s desire. This trend of showing strong female
characters received a boost with Alien's Ripley and the female characters in such
films as The Relic and the remake of Night o f the Living Dead. In these films the
women become interchangeable with traditional male members of the group fending
off the invader.
This twist of the generic conventions appears to be continued in this latest
remake of The Mummy as well as Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz) undergoes
substantial change from klutzy librarian to strong woman as the film progresses.
This change is underscored by the costuming and other cosmetic differences Evie
exhibits as Imhotep’s presence becomes increasingly menacing. Costume designer
John Bloomfield describes the progression this way:
She does start off as a librarian.. .looking quite sedate but still
very beautiful. Then it’s the classic thing of the glasses and the
hair in a bun. During the course of the story she lets her hair
down and she changes from her very pale colors into a much
more dramatic look. She takes on the black Arab dress and
then, when we come back to Cairo, we see her in bed and she’s
in a black nightie. The moment she realizes the full danger
she’s in, she never has a chance to change again, so she’s running
through the streets in her black nightie. It’s quite logical because
she’s terrified and she’s not caring any more what she’s wearing.
(Cadigan, 38)
Throughout Sommers’ story, Evie fulfills the role of the brains of the outfit,
possessing the knowledge of Egyptology necessary for the group to repel Imhotep.
This stands in contrast to the statement by the Egyptologist hired by the rival
American group when he tells his benefactors not to worry about Rick O’Connell
(Brendan Fraser) and his rag-tag band because '"[tjhey are led by a woman. What
does a woman know?” But, in truth, this film only pretends to exhibit a contemporary
feminist slant. A close examination of the plotline shows that Evelyn is responsible
for most of the major problems that the adventurers face. Throw in Anck-su-namun’s
provocative undress as she scampers around the palace while carrying on her
unconsummated affair with Imhotep, and we see The Mummy reiterating the cliche
that women are more trouble than what they may be worth.
Indeed, when the Pharaoh discovers the truth of his mistress’s affair with
his high priest it is Ank-su-namun who stabs the Pharaoh first, triggering the events