Why so much hype?

Excellent but underrated film

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

I have to say I don't understand how this film is rated so low. So right off the bat, if your a die-hard Horror fan like me I would tell you to ignore any bad reviews and its low rating because its a doozy that seems to have been overlooked. Right off the bat this movie has a great cast, great acting, great script, and great scares. The story keeps you wondering and guessing whats really going on till it all comes down. The film is a supernatural horror film which happens to be one of my favourite Horror genres, but its also much more then that. Its a mystery/suspense and a thriller also. It has a great back story and characters which makes it the forgotten creepy horror/thriller gem that it is.Some personal history, I bought this film about 4 years ago and watched it once with my Wife. Now, the first time I watched it I had just finished working a 12 hour shift so I kept falling asleep so I missed it.. My wife told me how she loved it and that I should take the time to watch it again, but it began to collect dust on my movie shelf. Finally one day, about 3 years ago, I was bored enough to watch it again. Since then I have watched it about 5 times and I'm not the usual person to give a movie multiple viewing unless the movie is very complicated and requires more then one view to really* understand everything going on. I don't know if I could classify this as that type of movie, its just a great flick that works. Now, I will not spoil the plot by being pretentious like most the people on IBMD, I never do, but basically its about a bar on route 66 where some strangers with secrets are brought together and a bunch of weird stuff goes down.If your more into slashers films then this may not be your cup of tea,but if you like GOOD supernatural Horror/thrillers then look no further,you will definitely like this.I give you my personal guarantee.I gave it 9 out of 10 stars and I would say for an independent horror it deserves every star.

Word of mouth led me astray. I was pretty much let down. There were a few good moments, but not enough for me to really enjoy this dramatic slice of awkward darkness. Sarah(Clare Kramer)pulls off of old Route 66 on a stormy night. There in the middle of nowhere she is able to spot the rundown mainly non-functioning Armadillo Cafe. Behind the counter she meets Billie(Lori Heuring), recognizably the brightest of a dysfunctional family. There is Mother Let(Betty Buckley)and the mentally challenged Wyatte(Brad Renfro); plus the paranoid and bit militant Jesse(Johnathon Schaech). The roadside diner is full of novelties like a sentimental stuffed armadillo and mummified man believed to be a member of this weird family. The storm is heavy and noisy as Sarah seeks out answers to her past as well as an understanding of the secrets and lies that probably cover up murders among the family. The young traveler gets wrapped up in the turmoil and boiling emotions; but actually finds herself back on her way down the highway.Also in the cast are Jodi Lynne O'Keefe, Busy Philipps and Wade Williams. Some of the worst movies turn out actually good; some just stay bad.

Another case of a stage play taken to the screen with no adaptation. There is a different dynamic for stage dialog versus movies, and it is painfully obvious as the characters deliver lines with no sense of pace. It comes off as a bunch of people just saying lines *at* one another. That's just one of the things that's wrong with this movie. What's worse is the loose, relatively incoherent plot. The simplistic relationship between the characters leads to a letdown when the final "dark secret" is revealed. The film tries for an intense, psychological edge; but the intensity never escalates beyond a bunch of people screaming and waving various weapons at one another, and the psychology never gets much beyond Psych 101.

Today, August 2, 2005, I happened to view the DVD for "The Mummy An' The Armadillo". Before I review the film, I will say that the only special features you get, is a "BEHIND THE SCENES", which features interviews with the beautiful, Clare Kramer, and much of the cast, including writer/director J.(JOE)S. Cardone. I learned his name was Joe from the interviews. Also, you get what is called a "Theatrical Trailer" from the back of the DVD cover box, but really is "Trailer" on the DVD, right under the "BEHIND THE SCENES" feature. Though, I have to say, I enjoyed the "BEHINDS" and the "TRAILER". Now, on with the film."The Mummy An' The Armadillo" begins with the opening credits, with flashes and sounds of lightning and visuals of certain objects, which are important pieces to the plot. We then are shown the beautifully, talented, Clare Kramer(Sarah). She opens a door, leading into, what we realize later on, is the Cafe. She wonders for a bit, trying to see who's in it, before running into Lori Heuring(Billie), who offers her coffee, to which Sarah responds, "I don't drink coffee...I have a weak bladder." Sarah sits in the table, and she and Billie get to know each other. The lights in the Cafe are off by the way, and come back on while Sarah and Billie are talking. Sarah freaks, before the lights turn on, and Billie offers her a drink. Sarah says she doesn't drink. The lights turn back on and she serves Sarah and tells her to drink, that it'll calm her nerves. Sarah says she's calm now, now that the lights are on. Billie asks Sarah if she would like to eat something. Sarah says if it wasn't a bother and asks what they have. Billie tells her to look in the menu and she starts asking for all these things that Billie doesn't have, and thinks Billie wants to get her mad, and, Billie, in the end, serves her Stew. In comes the sheriff, who starts to talk with Billie, as Sarah eats her stew. Sarah goes to the bathroom then comes back. The Sheriff tells Billie to make sure nothing happens like the last time, she assures him it won't, he later leaves. Next comes Jodi Lyn O'Keefe(Jackie), who comes in to sell Billie an object, asks Billie for $50 dollar payment, and Bille says that Jackie told her that it was for $25. They have a small quarrel about the money and Billie pays her. She stares at Sarah. Billie realize she must go, and Sarah hands her her car keys, and Billie promises to be back, tells Sarah she could have anything she wants "On the house", but, not for Jackie. She leaves and Jackie and Sarah have a small conversation, and tells Sarah what she really was eating, and Sarah stops eating. Jackie then tells Sarah that if she stays, something bad was going to happen, and Sarah says she was not going to scare her. Jackie makes it for Sarah to know, that she wasn't kidding, and she leaves. Sarah then roams the place and goes into a bedroom. She starts looking at photographs and breaks one accidentally by the loud crash noise of lightning, then decides to remove the picture from the glass, cuts herself, then takes the picture and places it in her purse. She slowly walks out of the room, only to be stuck in the head at gunpoint with a revolver, by Betty Buckley(Let). Let says she will blow her brains out if she moves and has her seated on the chair and tied by Brad Renfro(Wyatte). Let asks Sarah all sorts of questions and has Wyatte feel the heart of Sarah, holding her breast, and telling Wyatte that her heart is different and, that Sarah's was full of desire, etc. Wyatte lets go and tells Sarah he is sorry, crying, then heads out the door. Let follows him, then sits back to talk with Sarah. She drinks and passes out. Sarah calls out to Wyatte, and Wyatte comes, asking what she did, and Sarah said nothing, that she drank and passed out. Wyatte says she always does that when she reaches the end of the bottle. He puts Let to sleep and Sarah begs Wyatte to untie her. He tells her he can't until Let says it's OK. They have a personal conversation, then in comes Johnathon Schaech(Jesse), with two women he met and promised them a party. Jesse asks what's going on, looks at Sarah and winds up leaving to the bedroom, where Let sleeps, while the others just stay there. Sarah tells one of the two girls to convince Jesse to let her go. Jesse notices a broken glass on the floor, where Sarah dropped the photograph, and finds the broken picture frame on the floor, hidden under the bed, with the picture missing. He comes out, and the girl keeps her word to Sarah and asks Jesse to let Sarah go and he says no and she tells Sarah she tried. Jesse then ends the party and has the two girls leave, then tells Wyatte to go to the hole/basement and stay there. He starts messing with Sarah and eventually Billie returns and gets Jesse to stop. Jesse leaves in rage and doesn't come back for the rest of the film. Billie tells Sarah that she knows who she is, and you learn the secret of The Mummy An' The Armadillo.This was a great film. Big props for beautiful Clare Kramer, in a wonderful role, that deserves commending.