“Death is only the beginning” - Imhotep’s last line in The Mummy.
A man that has been dead for a couple millenia and is about to return to death utters these ominous words. Yes, it’s probably just to leave the story open for a sequel, but the metaphysical implications are terrifying. He knows what it’s like, and he’s claiming that so much more comes after, but we’re just left with a vague notion of what it could be. What could this mean? Is there sunshine and rainbows? Eternal torture? An endless void? An infinite realm of possibilities has just opened up for us, the audience.
But there’s no time for that shit, there’s gold and Benny’s a greedy sack of shit, the temple’s crumbling, and once they escape there’s a celebration and denoument to be had! We’ve all but forgotten that threat—or promise, as the case may be.
One of the best ways I have ever seen writers leave the door ajar for a sequel. There’s no hand pushing up through the rubble, no sinister laugh as the screen fades to black, no “did anyone remember to check that he died for sure?” no cheesy gimmicks. Just an ominous vaguery, that may be about hinting at another installment, but still works by itself as a raw line that goes hard af.
“Death is only the beginning” - Imhotep’s last line in The Mummy.
A man that has been dead for a couple millenia and is about to return to death utters these ominous words. Yes, it’s probably just to leave the story open for a sequel, but the metaphysical implications are terrifying. He knows what it’s like, and he’s claiming that so much more comes after, but we’re just left with a vague notion of what it could be. What could this mean? Is there sunshine and rainbows? Eternal torture? An endless void? An infinite realm of possibilities has just opened up for us, the audience.
But there’s no time for that shit, there’s gold and Benny’s a greedy sack of shit, the temple’s crumbling, and once they escape there’s a celebration and denoument to be had! We’ve all but forgotten that threat—or promise, as the case may be.
One of the best ways I have ever seen writers leave the door ajar for a sequel. There’s no hand pushing up through the rubble, no sinister laugh as the screen fades to black, no “did anyone remember to check that he died for sure?” no cheesy gimmicks. Just an ominous vaguery, that may be about hinting at another installment, but still works by itself as a raw line that goes hard af.
Yet another reason why that movie is a goddamn masterpiece.
Huh… TIL it’s PG-13. I saw it way younger.
Regardless, I consider anyone under the age of 18 to be a child