Bubba Ho-Tep

Sebastian Haff is growing old in the Shady Rest Convalescence Home in Mud Creek, Texas. Sebastian Haff likes to be called by his real name, which is Elvis Presley (Bruce Campbell). Also in the home is JFK (Ossie Davis), who is now an elderly black man. Both Elvis and JFK are in their twilight years and well and truly past their prime.

There are problems at night in the convalescence home as an unfriendly predator stalks the home for souls to steal. Elvis and his friend JFK team up to rid the home of the unfriendly predator.

The story is quite unusual and fun, there is comedy and some mild horror. The touching part is Elvis questioning his young life, and the dramas and challenges of dealing with old age. The soul searching from Elvis lifts the quality of the movie from being just another B grade movie.

Its a low budget movie and a bit dated by now, but the good performances of Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis carry the movie well.

I was expecting a little bit better movie from reading some reviews. However I was not disappointed with the move due to it being both quirky and sensitive.

By the late 1970's, Elvis Presley had grown tired of the demands and stresses of fame. Seeking respite, he swapped places with an Elvis impersonator, who was the one who died in 1977. After an explosion destroyed his documentation, the real Elvis was doomed to live a life of anonymity forevermore. Now an old man, the King resides in a nursing home, where the only one who believes his story is an elderly black man claiming to be JFK. After another patient at the home dies, the King realizes that an Egyptian mummy is on the prowl, feeding on the souls of the aged; and he and the President are the only ones who can stop it.

Written and directed by Don Coscarelli, and based on the novel of the same name by Joe R. Lansdale, 'Bubba Ho-Tep' is a wildly original comedy-horror that also serves as a poignant meditation on the aging process. Arguably the best film about Elvis Presley to date, Coscarelli's characterisation is rich and his dialogue wackily comedic, though also affecting. Despite the fact that some aspects of the narrative concerning the mummy seem slightly rote, and the ending is underwhelming; the plight of the aging Elvis and the skin-dyed JFK is engaging and entertaining.

The film presents these two once all-powerful men being physically diminished by time, though with the same gusto and spirit they had in their glory days. The King might be riddled with cancer, but he can still take care of business, and through his battle with the mummy; a profound point is made about the importance of having purpose in life, and that though someone may be old, that doesn't mean they don't have value. For a film about a lumbering, cowboy-hat sporting mummy in a nursing home; 'Bubba Ho-Tep' has surprising depth.

It is a low-budget affair, though one could be mistaken for thinking otherwise, considering the stylish cinematography from Adam Janeiro and Daniel Vecchione's assured production design. Janeiro creates a grubby visual palette both atmospheric and striking, which Vecchione's detailed work compounds. The nursing home is presented as having a depressing, dull air, as if it were forgotten by time; bolstering the films themes and enhancing its tone. Damon Carruesco's set decoration and Justin Zaharczuk's art direction also contributes effectively to the mood of the piece; both down-trodden and despondent.

Moreover, Shelley Kay's costume design is rich, contributing to the personalities of the characters, and adding to the depth of the narrative. Additionally, Gene Doucette- who designed the outfits worn by Presley in real life- also created the ones seen on screen, lending proceedings authenticity and realism. Furthermore, Brian Tyler's score is stirring, compounding the films tension and suspense; while Scott J. Gill and Donald Milne's intuitive editing keeps things running at a good pace.

'Bubba Ho-Tep' stars Bruce Campbell as Elvis, alongside Ossie Davis as JFK. A charismatic, versatile actor, Campbell has arguably never delivered a performance as powerful or nuanced. He becomes the aged King so believably that the likes of Don Johnson and Austin Butler seem like bad mimics in comparison. Subtle and affecting, Campbell's work lingers in the mind long after the credits have rolled, and will have you laughing and crying in equal measure.

Davis, meanwhile, has never been funnier as he is as the supposedly skin-dyed JFK. Sharing a great chemistry with Campbell, he is something of the comic foil of the two; and his sincere insistence that he is the 35th President- despite all the evidence to the contrary- is both heart-warming and raucously entertaining. In addition, Ella Joyce is excellent as a feisty nurse caring for the King, while Bob Ivy's performance as the titular mummy is a masterpiece of physical acting.

Poignant, powerful and a whole lot of fun, 'Bubba Ho-Tep' is a brilliant comedy-horror cocktail, with heart and soul to match its kooky characters and wackily original narrative. Although the ending boils down to a forgettable fight sequence, the journey there is a brilliant one, featuring strong dialogue, rich characterisation, much hilarity and striking visuals. Star Bruce Campbell has never been better, while Ossie Davis is marvellous, and their supporting cast don't let them down. In short, Don Coscarelli's 'Bubba Ho-Tep' will leave you hailing the King; baby.

The Evil Dead series already made it pretty clear and – after Bubba Ho Tep – there's nobody who should question this statement ever again: Bruce Campbell is one major cool dude! Campbell stars as Elvis. Old, fat and supposedly out of his mind, he's a resident in an East-Texas rest home. An ancient Egyptian mummy that has been stolen from a museum wanders around in the area, soul-feeding on the weak victims of the nursery home. Elvis, tired of his indigent and pathetic life, teams up with a black man who thinks he's former president Kennedy to destroy the mummy once and for all. The story of Bubba Ho-Tep is remarkably simple… Too simple actually, and if it wasn't for Campbell and a few ingenious gimmicks, this would have been an unnoticed and forgettable comedy/horror film. Bruce gives away an outstanding performance and he is the KING in ways you can't imagine. The saddening, self-criticizing monologues he gives while lying on the hospital bed are some of the best lines in recent cinema and his charisma speaks for itself. Veteran Ossie Davis gives great feedback as the 'president', seeing conspiracies wherever he looks.

The comedy aspects of Bubba Ho-Tep show right away, yet it also is a subtle drama, criticizing the way we often mistreat our elderly by placing them in a home and leaving them to their own devices. It is these outcasts that fight back here and save the day! Bubba Ho-Tep is filled with appealing one-liners and imaginative findings. How about the idea of a 2000-year-old mummy writing stuff like 'Cleopatra does the nasty' on a toilet's wall, like we all did in high school? The film also depends on the professional directing skills of Don Coscarelli. He finally found a worthy successor for his classic horror franchise 'Phantasm', even though that premise was a lot more complex and horrific. Recommended to fans of pop-culture flicks and bizarre gems. One of the better genre films since the new Millennium.

Hail to the King, baby!

BUBBA HO-TEP is the result of a "perfect storm" of sorts. First, the source material was put in the hands of a proven master of macabre weirdness, Director Don Coscarelli (PHANTASM 1-4, JOHN DIES AT THE END). Then, the perfect casting of Bruce "The Chin" Campbell (THE EVIL DEAD 1-3) as decrepit, rest home prisoner, Elvis Presley, and living legend Ossie Davis as fellow inmate, John F. Kennedy clinched the deal.

The resulting movie is a beautiful experiment in sheer lunacy... that works brilliantly! Campbell shows what made him all-3-Stooges-in-one in EVIL DEAD 2, as his hilarious inner and outer dialogue make up the bittersweet, comedic heart and soul of the film. Obviously, a murderous mummy's rest home rampage is primo stuff for Campbell.

However, what sets this movie apart from other horror comedies is it's setting, and the way it handles the bleakness of old age. In spite of all of the side-splitting humor and oddness, the true terror lies in growing old and being forgotten, making a cowboy hat-wearing mummy a welcome distraction. Coscarelli captured lightning in a bedpan here. Watching it is like whistling, giggling, and defiantly marching past the graveyard.

EXTRA CREDIT FOR: Ella Joyce as Elvis' no-nonsense nurse...

A great underrated gem. It is a movie that covers the topic of being old, and forgotten. Wrapped up as a comedy with a demon that preys on old people in a care home.

This was funny, surprisingly touching, and sad in moments. It was shot wonderfully with a grainy and detailed camera film. I love the camera work and lighting. The music is excellent throughout and this really was enjoyable to watch. The acting was believable and Campbell in particular was great as an old Elvis.

This film was written in a way that makes me question was it real at all? Was there really a demon? Were the old guys just crazy? Were they really old Elvis and black JFK? I don't know, but the film portrays it in that way on purpose, and it made me think about it which I love.

8/10 for being original, well filmed, with excellent music and pulling on some emotions along the way.