Pharaoh’s Curse

Pharaoh’s Curse

Year: 1957

Runtime: 66 mins

Language: English

Director: Lee Sholem

Horror

When a team of archaeologists uncovers an ancient tomb in Egypt, they inadvertently unleash a three‑thousand‑year‑old curse. One crew member is turned into a blood‑sucking mummy, plunging the expedition into a nightmarish fight for survival as the undead menace stalks the desert dig.

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Timeline & Setting – Pharaoh’s Curse (1957)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Pharaoh’s Curse (1957). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1902

Set in the early 20th century, the era is marked by restless urban life and fascination with Egypt's antiquities. A riot in Cairo signals the volatile environment in which explorers operate. The time frame underscores the peril that accompanies forbidden discoveries.

Location

Cairo, Egypt, Valley of the Kings, Rahateb tomb

1902 Cairo is the starting point, a city of tension where riots spill into the streets. The Valley of the Kings houses the hidden tombs explored by an unauthorized expedition. The tomb complex becomes the scene of danger, mystery, and ritual remnants that drive the plot.

🏙️ City 🗺️ Archaeology 🏺 Tombs 🐈 Supernatural

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:41

Main Characters – Pharaoh’s Curse (1957)

Meet the key characters of Pharaoh’s Curse (1957), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Captain Storm (Mark Dana)

An capable, decisive leader who steers the mission amid danger. He navigates tensions with Quentin and the group while balancing duty with the safety of his team. Storm ultimately drives the ascent into Rahateb's tomb and makes hard choices to protect his companions.

🎖️ Leader 🗺️ Explorer 🗡️ Durable

Walter Andrews (Ben Wright)

A pragmatic member of the expedition who helps translate inscriptions and decipher clues. He remains steady under pressure, often acting as a procedural counterpoint to the more impulsive members. Andrews contributes to the tomb's uncovering while staying focused on the mission.

🧭 Scholar 🧰 Translator 🩺 Investigator

Sylvia Quentin (Diane Brewster)

The expedition leader's wife who travels through danger and personal tension. Her presence tests loyalties, especially as she reveals she came to end her relationship in person. She is present in the tomb's peril and the emotional stakes of the mission.

💔 Relationships 🧭 Visitor 🔎 Investigator

Sgt. Smolett (Terence de Marney)

A steadfast sergeant who helps hold the group together under threat. He participates in tracking Numar and in managing the expedition's safety under chaotic conditions. Smolett embodies discipline amidst supernatural danger.

🪖 Soldier 🧭 Support ⚔️ Loyal

Robert Quentin (George N. Neise)

The expedition leader's husband whose anger and fear surface when Sylvia visits. He becomes a primary motivator for pressing into Rahateb's tomb and is implicated in the group dynamics. Quentin's arc ends in tragedy within the tomb.

🎭 Drama 🧭 Authority 💥 Conflict

Simira (Ziva Rodann)

A mysterious woman who may be more than she appears; she hints at offerings and routes, and is later tied to the goddess Bastet. Her amulet and cat-like presence frame the mythic element of the story. She becomes a pivotal figure in unveiling the tomb's true nature.

👁️ Mystery 🐈 Goddesses 🪬 Supernatural

Numar (Alvaro Guillot)

The enigmatic guide whose sudden aging and lack of pulse reveal a cursed, supernatural transformation. Numar drains blood from animals and people, embodying the priest's vengeance in a decaying body. His true identity as Rahateb's reincarnation drives the horror.

🧟 Horror 🗝️ Curse 🧬 Transformation

Dr. Michael Farraday (Guy Prescott)

A scientist who deduces Numar's body decomposition and ties the clues together with the tomb's lore. He provides rational explanations for the supernatural events while engaging with the group's fear. Farraday anchors the investigation through logic and observation.

🧪 Scientist 🕵️ Investigator 🧭 Logic

Col. Cross (Ralph Clanton)

A military liaison who coordinates the expedition's operations within the dangerous tomb setting. He maintains order and supports Storm's leadership when decisions become deadly. Cross represents command presence in the field.

🎖️ Command 🧭 Field 🛡️ Protective

Sgt. Gromley (Richard Peel)

A loyal sergeant who meets a grisly end as Numar drains his blood and the group pursues the mystery. Gromley's autopsy reveals the state of the corpse and the curse's real reach. He embodies the cost of peering into forbidden tombs.

🪖 Soldier 🩻 Forensic 💀 Tragedy

Hans Brecht (Kurt Katch)

An archaeologist who translates inscriptions that reveal Rahateb's ritual and the curse. He supports the mission but is pulled into the danger of the tomb. Brecht's discoveries become crucial to understanding the high priest's fate.

🧭 Archaeology 🗝️ Discovery 🧰 Scholar

Claude Beauchamp (Robert Fortin)

A member of the expedition who discovers Simira's amulet and guides the group toward or away from danger. Beauchamp's actions tie to the discovery of Simira's identity and the tomb's secret.

🗺️ Guide 🧭 Subterfuge 🧩 Clue

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:41

Major Themes – Pharaoh’s Curse (1957)

Explore the central themes of Pharaoh’s Curse (1957), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗝️ Curse

A three-thousand-year curse binds Rahateb's tomb, manifesting as deadly intruder-killing phenomena. The narrative frames the tomb as more than a grave, a living relic that demands respect or suffers consequences. The group's encounters with Numar and the decaying horror intensify the sense of inescapable doom. The theme explores how human curiosity collides with ancient power.

🧭 Archaeology

The expedition's drive to uncover a lost tomb drives the plot, highlighting danger, deception, and the lure of forbidden knowledge. Characters interpret tablet inscriptions and clues that reveal the tomb's grim history. The story shows how scientific curiosity can blur into obsession and risk.

🐈 Bastet

Simira is revealed as the human form of Bastet, linking feline grace to divine protection and danger. The mystery of Simira's true nature threads through the mission, guiding some and threatening others. The cat-like imagery and the final revelation color the tomb's haunting atmosphere as the group decides to keep the tomb a secret.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:41

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Archaeological Horror Movies like Pharaoh’s Curse

Stories where explorations of the past unleash a terrible, supernatural present.If you enjoyed the cursed expedition in Pharaoh’s Curse, you'll find similar dread in these movies where ancient evils are awakened. Discover films about archaeological horror, unleashed supernatural forces, and survival stories against ancient curses and monsters. These movies share a tense, foreboding atmosphere and themes of consequences for delving into forbidden history.

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Narrative Summary

Movies in this thread typically follow a discovery-to-doom structure. An expedition, research team, or curious individual uncovers something ancient and sacred, often ignoring warnings. This act triggers a supernatural curse or resurrects a malevolent entity that methodically targets the intruders. The plot revolves around survival, understanding the rules of the ancient threat, and often ends with a pyrrhic victory or a contained-but-persisting evil.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their core premise: the awakening of an ancient supernatural threat through human intrusion. They share a specific brand of horror rooted in history and mythology, creating a sense of ominous mystery and consequences for transgressing into the past. The tone is consistently tense and foreboding, with a steady pacing that builds dread as the curse unfolds.

Movies with a Claustrophobic Siege Vibe like Pharaoh’s Curse

Tense stories of small groups trapped and stalked by a relentless supernatural entity.Fans of the tense, isolated horror in Pharaoh’s Curse will appreciate these movies about small groups trapped by a supernatural menace. Discover similar films with a claustrophobic atmosphere, steady pacing, and a feeling of being stalked by an ancient or otherworldly force. These stories focus on survival against a relentless, non-human enemy in confined settings.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a group of people in an isolated location becoming targets of a single, persistent supernatural antagonist. The threat is often intelligent and unstoppable, forcing the characters into a defensive siege. The story unfolds linearly, with attacks increasing in frequency and intensity, testing the group's cohesion and resourcefulness. Endings are often bittersweet or bleak, with survival coming at a great cost.

Why These Movies?

These movies are united by their shared atmosphere of oppressive isolation and a specific type of threat—a singular, supernatural stalker. The combination of a confined setting, a steady pace that methodically increases tension, and a focus on the psychological strain of a siege creates a distinct viewing experience. The mood is consistently anxious and claustrophobic.

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Pharaoh’s Curse Summary

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Pharaoh’s Curse Summary

Pharaoh’s Curse Timeline

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Pharaoh’s Curse Timeline

Pharaoh’s Curse Spoiler-Free Summary

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Pharaoh’s Curse Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Pharaoh’s Curse

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