CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Just as a dent is starting to form in that bucket of leftover Halloween candy you have at home, the Clay Center delivers one extra treat with its new ElectricSky attraction, "Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs."

Opening Saturday, the film follows the efforts of Egyptologists Dr. Bob Brier and Dr. Zahi Hawa and DNA scientist Angelique Corthals as they look for genetic clues in the past.

As a popular subject, Egyptian mummies have been picked over for generations and slowly gone from serious academic study to movie monsters. Brendan Fraser probably built a couple of houses with the money he made fighting them on the big screen.

"Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs" shows there is still a lot left to learn.

Narrated by the always-creepy Sir Christopher Lee (the voice of Dracula no less), the film gives an entertaining and informative overview of the history of Egyptology - the study of ancient Egypt - as well as how evidence of the past could relate to modern-day science and the future of medicine.

Interwoven with story of Egyptology even became possible, there is a separate story on the effectiveness of the ancients' mummification practices. 

It's not necessarily for the squeamish. Obviously, mummies are dead. It's part of what makes them such fun movie monsters, and while the film stays firmly on the scientific path, some of the re-enactments of how a corpse is prepared might cause a little discomfort. It's not particularly graphic, but it might be a little hard for some to stomach.

However, "Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs" is a wonderful educational experience and a great companion piece to the Clay Center's current exhibit, "Lost Kingdoms of the Nile: Nubian Treasures From the Museum of Fine Arts Boston," which is on display through April 11. 

Reach Bill Lynch at ly...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5195.

Want to go?

'Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs'

WHEN: Runs through March 5, 2010

WHERE: Clay Center ElectricSky Theater

SHOW TIMES: Noon, 1, 3 and 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; 1, 3 and 4 p.m. Sunday.

TICKETS: Adults $13.50 and children $11 (includes galleries and planetarium)

INFO:  www.theclaycentre.org or 304-561-3562

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Just as a dent is starting to form in that bucket of leftover Halloween candy you have at home, the Clay Center delivers one extra treat with its new ElectricSky attraction, "Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs."

Opening Saturday, the film follows the efforts of Egyptologists Dr. Bob Brier and Dr. Zahi Hawa and DNA scientist Angelique Corthals as they look for genetic clues in the past.

As a popular subject, Egyptian mummies have been picked over for generations and slowly gone from serious academic study to movie monsters. Brendan Fraser probably built a couple of houses with the money he made fighting them on the big screen.

"Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs" shows there is still a lot left to learn.

Narrated by the always-creepy Sir Christopher Lee (the voice of Dracula no less), the film gives an entertaining and informative overview of the history of Egyptology - the study of ancient Egypt - as well as how evidence of the past could relate to modern-day science and the future of medicine.

Interwoven with story of Egyptology even became possible, there is a separate story on the effectiveness of the ancients' mummification practices. 

It's not necessarily for the squeamish. Obviously, mummies are dead. It's part of what makes them such fun movie monsters, and while the film stays firmly on the scientific path, some of the re-enactments of how a corpse is prepared might cause a little discomfort. It's not particularly graphic, but it might be a little hard for some to stomach.

However, "Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs" is a wonderful educational experience and a great companion piece to the Clay Center's current exhibit, "Lost Kingdoms of the Nile: Nubian Treasures From the Museum of Fine Arts Boston," which is on display through April 11. 

Reach Bill Lynch at ly...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5195.