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 Bubba
Ho-tep
 
Starring: Bruce Campbell
and Ossie Davis.
Screenplay/Directed by: Don Coscarelli
Based on a short story by: Joe R. Lansdale
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DVD
Details [film review below]:
Buy
It
Rated:
Not for sale to persons under age 18.
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
DVD Release Date: May 25, 2004
DVD Features:
Commentary by director Don Coscarelli and Bruce Campbell
Commentary
by "the King"
Theatrical
trailer(s), TV spot(s)
Joe
R. Landsdale reads from Bubba Ho-Tep
Deleted
scenes with optional commentary by Don Coscarelli and Bruce
Campbell
"The
Making of Bubba Ho-Tep" featurette
"To
Make a Mummy" (makeup and effects featurette)
"Fit
for a King" (Elvis costuming featurette)
"Rock
Like an Egyptian" (featurette about the music of Bubba
Ho-Tep)
Music
video
Photo
gallery
Limited
collectible packaging
12-page
scrapbook/behind-the-scenes photos with personal comments
from Bruce Campbell and Don Coscarelli and a two-page letter
from Campbell to his fans
Widescreen
anamorphic format
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Bubba Ho-tep
is an instant cult classic - and why shouldn't it be? It's got
all the elements one looks for in their "evil cowboy hat
wearing soul sucking Mummy that battles Elvis Presley and John
F. Kennedy for control of an East Texas nursing home" movie!
Story
goes…What if The King, aka Elvis Presley, wasn't dead at
all? What if he had decided to disappear years ago, take a little
"break" from the hoopla. Then things beyond his control
made it impossible for him to return to his "king" -dom?
What if Elvis were alive?
Well
he is (here at least). And now The King (Bruce Campbell) is sixty-five,
broke, and considered just another whacky Elvis living
out his days in a nursing home as one of the many forgotten and
delusional residents. Brilliant.
Suddenly
the sleepy home, The King could call Wasteland, is under attack
by a mysterious flying scarab that prepares its master's food
with a bite of venom. Its master is a soul sucking potty-mouthed
ancient Egyptian mummy that kinda likes Western wear.
The
elderly residents start to fall victim to this evil and the staff
figures it's just age getting them...
Only
Elvis and his fellow nursing home friend, ex-President John F.
Kennedy (Ossie Davis), know the truth behind what lurks in the
darkness and they form an army - of sorts - between them.
Can
the two American icons kill an ancient parasite? Hmm…
Believe
it or not this works. Director Don Coscarelli keeps Joe R. Lansdale's
short story - turned film firmly out there but webbed close enough
to a baseline of reality that we happily go along for the ride.
And
here Elvis is portrayed as a remorseful man that is - brace yourself
- human. Bruce Campbell gives The King a rich redeemable soul
within all the celebrity of his undying legend. In fact it's one
helluva performance by Campbell. Bruce (who's kind of a manlyberry
studmuffin under the Elvis make-up) gave what could have easily
been carnival-brand Elvis impersonation scenes deep subtle heart
and gritty realism while his comic abilities carefully accented
with genuine hilarity. He maintained all these layers in the performance
and still managed to bring us an oddly respectful vision of The
King with a tingly horror film in the forefront.
Ossie
Davis as John F. Kennedy was wonderful. Half way through you actually
started to think maybe his conspiracy theories weren't so off...nah!
Of course as JFK he's off his rocker - mentally - and comes complete
with a handful of covert assassination plans. But under the delusions
of a old man is a brave man.
Get
out and see this soiree into another realm! Bubba Ho-tep
is 100% original and utterly entertaining! The art department
captured that "Naked Lunch" feel perfectly and
the delightfully creepy cinematography by Adam Janeiro adds dollops
of perfection to that other-plain-like treat!
If
the stunning cinematography, the sweeping classic horror shots
and the impeccable cast don't sell you on the film yet? Then see
it for the Elvis vs. The Flying Scarab from Hell scene alone!
I still cannot operate machinery when I think s of this hilariously
ridiculous scene!
Snack
recommendation: Fried peanutbutter sandwiches...of course!
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