TheswansongfordirectorSethHolt(whodiedshortlybeforefilmingwascompleted),thisstylishHammerproductiontranscendsitslowbudgetthankstolushphotography,astylishlook,andfineperformancesfromtheleads.Theplot,adaptedfromBramStoker'snovelTheJeweloftheSevenStars,involvesanexpeditionledbyProfessorFuchs(AndrewKeir)tofindthecursedtombofanevilEgyptianprincess.Upondiscoveryofhersarcophagus,Fuchsfindsherperfectlypreserved,still-bleedingseveredhand--whichalsosportsadazzlingrubyring.Severalyearslater,FuchsgivesthepilferedringtohisvoluptuousyoungdaughterMargaret(ValerieLeon),whereuponsheslowlybeginstotakeonthemalevolenttraitsofitsoriginalwearer,seekingrevengeforthedefilementofhertomb.ThoughChristopherWicking'sadaptationofStoker'sobscurenovelisabituneven,itstillprovidesamplesuspenseandtheproductionhasanoverallrichnessthatcapturestheflavorofHammer'sothermummyprojects.Remadeeightyearslater(withlesseffectiveresults)asTheAwakening;tracesofthesamestorycanalsobefoundinUniversal's1999mega-budgetversionTheMummy.~CavettBinion,AllMovieGuide