The introduction of series antagonist, Anck-Su-Namun, is rather short, and in all honesty is most of her significance in the first movie. She won’t be stepping in to her character and own agency until the second film.
Her introduction in the first film, however, is very important. She gives us backstory and drive for the second antagonist Imhotep, as well as, being the first female character we see within the franchise. Anck-Su-Namun first appears wearing a decorative loincloth and gold body paint. Her first appearance is a near full body shot, cutting off around mid thigh. We see her and Imhotep kiss before the Pharaoh arrives. Being the Pharaoh’s mistress, Anck-Su-Namun, was forbidden to love another and with their secret discovered she and Imhotep kill the Pharaoh. We don’t see her make a clear decision to do so and in the following scene she helps Imhotep escape and dies herself, claiming that only Imhotep can bring her back.
Anck-Su-Namun doesn’t say anything aside from her insistence that Imhotep can resurrect her. She places all of the responsibility and narrative importance onto Imhotep. Anck-Su-Namun has no speaking lines after this scene. Anck-Su-Namun becomes a wordless love interest, her only relevance is as motive for the male antagonist. She upholds the gender stereotype of only being around as an object of desire for a male character.
Shared by: Cora McMains
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