The Mummy’s Tomb

The Mummy’s Tomb

Year: 1942

Runtime: 61 mins

Language: English

Director: Harold Young

HorrorFantasyHorror

A vengeful high priest of Karnak brings the living mummy Kharis (Lon Chaney Jr.) to the United States, intent on exacting retribution on the descendants of those who robbed the tomb of Egyptian princess Ananka three decades earlier. Their relentless pursuit of the cursed intruders drives the film’s chilling horror.

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The Mummy’s Tomb (1942) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of The Mummy’s Tomb (1942), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Thirty years after uncovering Princess Ananka’s tomb and the living mummy Kharis, along with his High Priest Andoheb, Massachusetts archaeologist Steve Banning recounts the harrowing events to his family and a gathering of evening guests, steering the tale toward the moment when the creature was believed to be destroyed. The frame shifts to Egypt, where Andoheb passes on the legend of Kharis to his devoted follower Mehemet Bey and reveals the grim plan: use tana leaves to reawaken the mummy and terminate the bloodline of the Banning expedition and its descendants. After these preparations, Andoheb expires, and Bey with Kharis heads for the United States.

Bey takes a caretaker job at Mapleton cemetery, where he begins administering the tana brew to Kharis. The monster, hungry for vengeance, resumes its pursuit of those connected to the desecration of Ananka’s tomb, with its first victim being the aging Banning. As the sheriff and coroner search for clues, Babe Hanson arrives, drawn by the disturbing deaths and fueled by his own suspicions that a mummy is stalking the town. When Jane Banning is slain, Hanson becomes convinced that an ancient evil is at work, and he recounts his theory to a newspaperman at a local bar, only to meet the same end soon after.

Dr. John Banning, son of Steve, joins forces with Professor Norman to crack the mystery of the “grayish mark” found on the victims’ throats. Norman’s tests reveal a terrifying clue: the marks are mold from a mummy, confirming Hanson’s suspicions and turning the case toward an undead culprit rather than a human killer.

Meanwhile, Bey pursues his own dangerous designs. Knowing that Steve Banning and his girlfriend, Isobel Evans, are planning to marry, Bey sets out to derail their nuptials. He has Kharis abduct Isobel and transport her to the cemetery caretaker’s hut, where Bey reveals his chilling plan: Isobel would become his bride and High Priest of Karnak, bearing him an heir to the royal line. The townspeople, growing wary of an Egyptian immigrant’s alleged involvement, converge on Bey’s location, while Kharis slips away with Isobel in the cover of night.

A confrontation erupts outside the hut when Bey is challenged, and he is fatally shot by the sheriff as the mob closes in. Meanwhile, Kharis makes a beeline for the Banning estate, with the townspeople torching the path to deny the creature an escape. Inside the house, Steve Banning fights the mummy and keeps him at bay with a burning torch, managing to rescue Isobel from Kharis’s grasp, though a blaze soon engulfs the home. The chase spills onto the balcony above, where the townspeople rain down torches and, together with the sheriff and coroner, force the mummy’s demise in the flames. The peril ends with Banning and Isobel’s swift wedding, just as Banning receives his draft notice to report for World War II duty.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:12

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Ancient Curse Vengeance Stories like The Mummy’s Tomb

Where restless spirits and ancient evils seek revenge on the descendants of their desecrators.If you liked the vengeful mummy in The Mummy’s Tomb, explore more movies where ancient curses are unleashed. This collection features similar tales of supernatural retribution, where characters are hunted by forces from a forgotten past, creating a steady-paced, creepy horror experience.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a linear path of transgression and punishment. After a past wrong is uncovered, an ancient evil is awakened and sets out on a destructive path. The protagonists, often descendants of the original wrongdoers, must race against time to understand the curse's rules and find a way to stop the unstoppable, leading to a final confrontation.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on supernatural vengeance rooted in history. They create a specific kind of tension from being pursued by an inexorable, otherworldly force, blending atmospheric horror with a straightforward, fate-driven plot.

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Slow-building terror as a iconic monster relentlessly pursues its victims.Fans of The Mummy’s Tomb will enjoy this selection of classic monster movies. These films feature iconic creatures that stalk their prey, creating a tense and creepy vibe with straightforward narratives and a focus on atmospheric horror over deep psychological complexity.

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Narrative Summary

The story is a simple chase: a monster is introduced, its motive is established (often instinct or revenge), and it begins hunting a group of characters. The narrative unfolds through a series of stalking sequences and attacks, building towards a climax where the survivors discover the monster's weakness and confront it directly, typically resulting in its destruction.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their core experience: the thrill of being hunted by a famous movie monster. They share a medium intensity, a dark tone, and a straightforward structure that prioritizes iconic creature action and suspense over intricate twists or heavy emotional drama.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Mummy’s Tomb

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Mummy’s Tomb

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