Villian(s)  Mummy, undead slaves

Actor(s):  Brenda King, Barry Sattels, George Peck, John Salvo

Brief Description  Dawn of the Mummy (1981) is a cult horror-thriller film directed by Frank Agrama that blends the traditional Egyptian curse mythos with graphic, 1980s-style zombie gore. Unlike classic, slow-moving mummy movies, this film portrays its ancient undead as aggressive, ravenous flesh-eaters.

Plot:
The story follows a group of tomb raiders who violate the sacred resting place of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Safiraman in search of his legendary gold treasure. At the same time, a team of American fashion models and their photographer stumble upon the site and decide to use the majestic, newly opened tomb as a backdrop for a high-profile magazine photo shoot. The collective intrusion triggers a powerful, ancient curse. The pharaoh Safiraman rises from his sarcophagus alongside an undead army of slaves buried thousands of years prior. The resurrected monsters stalk the desert sands, unleashing a bloody, flesh-devouring wave of vengeance upon the models, the thieves, and the nearby local villagers. Though frequently mistaken for an Italian horror film due to its crew, it was actually a rare U.S.–Egyptian co-production filmed on-location in Egypt.